Ecofeminism

Eco-feminism Eco-feminism emerged in the 1970s as parts of the women’s liberation movement. Eco feminism is a radical philosophy in the sense that it seeks radical change in ecological consciousness; though it is gradually quite hostile to deep ecology. Carlassare argues that the term ‘eco-feminism’ is utilized ‘by some activist and academics to refer to a feminism that connects ecological degradation and the oppression of women. Women are seen as closer to nature by the fact of their biological essence: the ability to give birth and nurture children. It is the female virtues related to care, empathy, institution, connection, and cooperation, which are crucial. The roots of environmental problems, according to eco feminist, are not anthropocentrisms, but rather anthropocentrism Basic theme of the eco feminist is that ecological destruction has its origins in patriarchy: nature is under threat not from humankind but from men and the institutions of male power. Feminist who adopt an androgynous or sexless view of human nature argue that patriarchy has distorted the instincts and sensibilities of men by divorcing them from the ‘private’ world of nurturing, home making and personal relationships. The sexual divisions of labor thus incline men to subordinate both women and nature, seeing themselves as ‘masters’ of both. Vandana Shiva sees colonialism and patriarchy as explaining the success of the globalizations of ‘western development’ and advanced capitalism. Patriarchy is seen as cultural rather than natural, and ecofeminist look back to egalitarian and matriarchal societies, some complete with goddesses, prior to the rise of cities, kingdoms, and empires. The roots of contemporary social and ecological evils is a, according to Shiva, the enlightenment commitment to science and economic growth, which together destroy life’s diversity and sanctity. According to Vandana Shiva development was thus reduced to a continuation of the process of colonization; it became an extension of the project of wealth creation in modern Western patriarchy’s economic vision, which was based on the exploitation or exclusion of women on the exploitation and degradation of nature, and on the exploitation and erosion of other cultures.