By Tiffany Mar
The intersection between the environmental and feminist movements may seem clear. For example, in climate-related disasters women are 14 times more likely to perish. However, the ecofeminism framework illustrates that this connection runs much deeper. With the rising intensification of climate change today and in the future, a closer examination of gender and its relation to the climate crisis is more important than ever.
Ecofeminism is defined as a theoretical framework that seeks to establish connection between the exploitation of nature and the oppression of women. Ecofeminists work to augment and re-evaluate both the environmentalist and feminist arguments. In the words of ecofeminist activist and author, Carol J. Adams, “Your evolution as a feminist is to realize that feminism isn’t just talking about men and women, it’s talking about gendered relationships wherever they are found.” To understand this framework further, one needs to understand the underlying concepts that explain it.
The first key concept is oppositional dualism, which is the examination of how binary definitions are employed to falsely categorize groups. The result of this process is the assignment of disproportionate value to one group or another. This idea can be seen in how most humans view males and females. In these social constructs, men and women are not only viewed as different, but as opposites. Ecofeminism asserts that this man-made construct also applies to our view of ‘humans’ versus ‘nature’. Natural environments are seen as resources to be exploited or obstacles to be overcome. The preservation of nature is seen as the opposite of human development. In other words, the continuation and growth of urbanization necessitates continued environmental degradation. In recent years, ecofeminism has been expanded upon by queer scholars such as Catriona Sandilands, Jessica Ison and Greta Gaards. By merging queer ecology and ecofeminism, these thinkers analyzed the damaging imacts of hetronormativity on our society as well as our understanding of the natural world. Queer econfeminism pushes back against compulsory heterosexualtity while acknowledging the diversity of nature. Queering ecofeminism creates a modern lens in which to view nature and women-- allowing us to question the ideas driving heterosexist notions of nature and deconstruct the idea of the ‘unnatural’.
The second key concept ecofeminism works against is hierarchical thinking, which is a structure that cultures form when more power and value is assigned to a certain side of the binary. This idea complements oppositional dualism in that it sees a parallel in the relationship between men/women and humans/nature. Ecofeminism recognizes the hierarchy in the power dynamic of patriarchal social structures. The same relationship is paralleled by humanity’s relationship with nature, which sees humanity as essentially more valuable than nature and all other beings on earth. Furthermore, an ecofeminist views the combined forces of hierarchical thinking and oppositional dualism as reasoning that supports the subjugation of women and nature as a whole. These ideas are employed to justify the masculinised domination of the natural world and women. Examples of this range from hunting, exploitation and domesticity.
While ecofeminism has useful concepts in its frameworks, it is not without its drawbacks. In the 1980’s the ecofeminist movement had popular support, but it has since faded from use in intellectual and activist groups. This is mainly due to the fact that ecofeminism is difficult to apply outside a theoretical level. Additionally, critics point out that ecofeminism only considers the connection between nature and women. It fails to account for the multitude of differences between women themselves, such as race or class. Thus, the theoretical framework was dismissed as essentialist. In the following years, ecofeminism declined as environmental justice gained traction. As per the definition given by the Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice refers to the “fair treatment of all people, regardless of identity, in the development and implementation of environmental laws.” Some of the reasons environmental justice expanded beyond intellectual and activist circles is due to its inclusive framework and relatable goals. Unlike ecofeminism which focuses on a women-nature relationship, environmental justice addresses environmental issues, such as food insecurity and pollution.
Despite environmental justice being the more widely accepted framework, it does not specifically address gender as a key to understanding and solving the climate crisis in the way ecofeminism does. This is critical because the empowerment of women is a major factor in reducing global emissions and securing a sustainable future. In a study by the Mary Robinson Foundation, the elevation of women in legislative fields yields greater positive outcomes in environmental policymaking. Thus, an ecofeminist framework can help us acknowledge that the environment and social issues are inherently intertwined. Ecofeminism still holds value in recognizing where these intersections are and how we can address them.