The Feminine Face of Environmental Activism: An Ecofeminist Perspective

Abstract

Environmentalism and feminism lay the rich and complicated field of ecofeminism. This multidisciplinary movement promotes the simultaneous liberation of women and the environment by criticizing the interconnected forms of oppression that impact both. Ecofeminism, which has its roots in feminist and ecological concerns, offers a comprehensive framework for comprehending and resolving the structural injustices that underpin gender inequality and environmental degradation.
Ecofeminism gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s when environmental challenges and feminist concerns started to more clearly overlap. Scholars and activists such as Vandana Shiva, Carolyn Merchant, and Maria Mies brought attention to the manner in which patriarchal structures exploit nature and women. They maintained that the exploitation of the environment is supported by the same cultural logic that defends women’s dominance.
Ecofeminism is based on a number of fundamental ideas that connect ecological and feminist viewpoints - Interconnected Oppression, Appreciating Diverse Knowledge Systems, Holistic Perspective on Health and Sustainability, Activism and Praxis.
In ecofeminist theory and practice, several central themes arise, each emphasizing a distinct facet of the movement’s concentration on the links between gender and environmental challenges. Ecofeminists contend that similar myths have traditionally been used by patriarchal civilizations to justify the dominance of both women and environment. These stories frequently present women and the natural world as submissive, caring, and in need of supervision. Industrialization, for example, has resulted in the exploitation of natural resources and the consignment of women to domestic work for no pay—both of which are viewed as “natural” and hence exploitable.
This paper highlights how ecofeminism promotes the emancipation of women and the Earth, provides crucial insights and avenues for revolutionary change as environmental and social issues grow more pressing.