Ecofeminism

Two weeks ago I set a few goals; one was to work more on my shark page and reignite that passion again. The other was to try and be as plastic free as possible. As ecofeminists we have learned how connected all things are to each other. A. E. Kings states, “the tools of intersectionality to help illuminate the interconnectedness of race, class, gender, disability, sexuality, caste, religion, age and the effects which these can have (in their many and uniquely constituted forms) on the discrimination, oppression, and identity of women and the natural environment.” In attempting these goals, I wanted to discover a new part of myself that not only fought for the planet but also felt empowered as a woman as I worked towards achieving them.

Eliminating single-use products and plastics:

I am someone who enjoys wearing makeup. It’s not every day but when

I do, it has to come off at some point, right? I was using single-use cotton pads to remove my makeup but hated how much waste I was creating. After a small amount of research, I discovered that there are reusable makeup pads and they’re made from a blend of bamboo and cotton. When I run out of them, all I have to do is throw them in with my clothes when I do laundry and problem solved! I’ve also switched to using coconut oil to remove my makeup. Buying bottles and containers of designated “makeup remover” feels a bit like a scam to me and they come in plastic containers that are single use. There are so many uses for coconut oil and I can repurpose or recycle the glass jar when it’s empty. 

Another thing I wanted my family to start doing is stop buying plastic bottles. We have a fridge that produces filtered water and perfectly fine tap water from the sink. Over the past two weeks, we haven’t purchased any single use water bottles and have switched to using only refillable bottles or cups. I know it’s small and there’s only three of us but that’s now three people compared to just one. Slowly but surely we’ll switch over to either making our own laundry detergent or buying laundry detergent sheets that come in a biodegradable package. These are small wins, and it was hard at first but we’re spending less money and helping eliminate our plastic footprint.

Shark Activism:

As far as my activism goes, I wasn’t able to fully dedicate the time to it that I wanted. I did make a new post on my Instagram page but I have not been able to continue working on my website to get it back up and running. I’m hoping that once the semester ends, I will be able to make the time for it. The site doesn’t just include information about sharks, but also information about our oceans in general.

Overall, I say I was able meet the goals I set for myself. I hope I will be able to continue them after the semester ends as this isn’t just an assignment for school. It’s something that I need to learn from and continue to apply in my life, not only to better myself but also my impact on the Earth.

In the first post we had for this semester, I had mentioned my online activism for the ocean and specifically sharks. This is something I’ve worked on since 2019. Life has gotten in the way and that’s prohibited me from posting as often. I even created a website but it hasn’t been active for a few months because I haven’t had the time to keep up with it. One of the major issues that people often think of in regard to the upkeep of our oceans is the elimination of plastic. I try to use smaller amounts of plastic but truthfully, it’s difficult. It’s in everything. I also try to avoid anything from plastic bottles or any single-use products. My plan for a while has been to make the transition to more bamboo based products. Bamboo grows twenty times faster than regular trees so it’s more sustainable and ecofriendly.

Here’s an article that explains the importance of using bamboo products, including the benefits and how it’s more eco-friendly.

https://www.ecotradecompany.com/blogs/news/are-bamboo-products-eco-friendly

My goal over the coming weeks is to consciously be aware of the products I use that contain plastic, are single-use, or anything that isn’t eco friendly. If there is something that I absolutely have to use, I plan to do research on if it’s recyclable and local facilities that will accept the material. In addition to this, I want to set aside time again for my shark page. It’s something I am deeply passionate about and it’s been neglected for too long. I think this plan has the potential to work very well. It will be difficult at first, but if I can create strict guidelines for myself I should be able to keep to it further into the future.

As I wrote in my first post, everything is in same way connected. It may seem small,  limiting my plastic usage and switching to more sustainable products, but in the long run it matters. What I do changes what my boyfriend does, and has the potential to impact our coworkers and friends. Something that started with one then changes into a whole group of people. Our imprint on the Earth is something that will last forever and we are responsible for taking care of it.

I know my goals do not directly describe the feminist aspect of “ecofeminism”, but this semester we’ve looked at many examples of environmentalism and how feminism fits into that conversation. I feel comfortable in my choices for this project, as I believe fighting for our oceans also directly fights for women’s rights, even if not directly. In protecting the planet, nurturing her, and keeping her clean, I am finding my place and establishing my role in this conversation.

For anyone interested in learning more about sharks, our oceans, and recent conversations about both, check out my page on Instagram. I’ll be working on it soon and will be more active in the conversation.

https://www.instagram.com/all.shark.no.bite/

 

“Environmental protection is not just about talking. It is also about taking action.” – Wangari Maathai

Women have always been seen as the caretakers and nurturers. That is our responsibility. In Africa, women are in charge of tilling, plants, nurturing, and harvesting the food. “They are the first to become aware of environmental damage that harms agricultural production” as they can see it in the faces of their spouses, friends, and children (Maathai). These women depend on their land. The richness of soil, the abundance of rain, the shade provided by trees; all depend on a woman to tend to their needs so their families and communities can survive.

The Green Belt Movement helps with this survival. Founded by Wangari Maathai, “encourag[es] the farmers (70 percent of whom are women) to plant ‘Green Belts’ to stop soil erosion, provide shade, and create a source of lumber and firewood” (Maathai). She is an advocate for the environment, hoping to teach countries all over the world of the importance of our environment. If we take care of the land then the land will take care of us in return. She is also an advocate for women’s rights. Since the Green Belt movement began in 1977, over 15 million trees have been planted.

These environmental wins have also come with many hardships. While speaking up for their needs, women in Africa have been severely abused, violated, and thrown in jail. While raising concern for the environment, these women are also speaking for themselves and their personal rights. Violence is what they get in return. That has not stopped Maathai, as she has accomplished many great things in her life and has never let anything stop her from achieving her goals.

Latin America faces similar environmental issues, as there is an overabundance of pollution. These communities rely on the rivers as a clean source of water, but they have only met devastation. They are unable to grow food, use the water, and children are getting sick. The lack of care for this environment confirms how the women are treated in these communities.

“Daily life for poor women is like a jail, as I said before. A new morning comes. We send children to school…We have nothing to cook…They hope the children have already eaten, but they have not. Night arrives and brings back the men… Often the men eat before returning home or only drink alcohol. The cycle of domestic jail finished today and now women wait to begin again tomorrow, probably with the bad news of a new pregnancy” (Gebara).

The places that have a small amount of care for their environment, the more likely women are going to suffer. When speaking up for their environmental rights in Africa, Maathai was mutilated. In Latin America where women cannot afford food or have access to clean water, they are abused and starve with their children.

Indigenous nations have been persecuted, oppressed, and taken advantage of for too long. Their land has been taken, they have been forced to relocate, and in some instances they have lost their connection to their lands. These “environmental projects” for oils, mines, etc. have pushed the boundaries and have caused generations of harm and violence.

 

 

I can hear her voice in the wind

Watching as it dances with the trees

I can feel her tears as the river flows around me

Calling, pulling me towards her

The Earth is calling me home

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

The poem above is something I wrote a few months ago. I was pondering the different aspects of life and the cyclical nature of all of its aspects. Born of the Earth, she will eventually call us back to the dirt. The science side of things explains that the Earth gave us the nourishment we need and in death we will do the same for the Earth. And it got me thinking about how all things in life are interconnected, which leads to this week’s topic of intersectionality.

As humans, we often fail to see the smaller scale of this connectivity, as we are more consumed with the social aspects of our lives, but there is a deeper connection there with the philosophy of intersectionality. Coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality “illuminate[s] the interconnectedness of race, class, gender, disability, sexuality, caste, religion, age and the effects which these can have… on the discrimination, oppression, and identity of women and the natural environment” (Kings).

 

Through the course of this semester, we have spent time looking at most of these aspects on a smaller scale. From the Grassroots movement in the Global South to deeper philosophical aspects of vegetarianism and the suppressed female voice in government, all of these things have a connection through the lens of ecofeminism. “Ecofeminism exposes the repression of women and the environment as interlinked and rooted in patriarchal structures”, as defined by Leah Thomas in her article, The Difference Between Ecofeminism & Intersectional Environmentalism. Thomas also defines intersectional environmentalism as “an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for the protection of people and the planet and addresses how the injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected”.

These are both very similar ideas, the difference being that ecofeminism focuses more on the patriarchal influence over the feminine interconnectedness to the environment. It does not discredit intersectional environmentalism, but more so takes what it known and examines it from a more feminist perspective. The important commonality between both philosophies, is their understanding of the ecology and our human connection to it.

 

Ecology, in the simplest of terms, is the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment. Marine biologist and conservationist,  Rachel Carson spent her life writing about the environment and history of the oceans. Her essay, Undersea, examines the smallest organisms of the ocean to the largest, poetically describing how they are all connected. But why is this relevant to ecofeminism? In understanding her teachings, we can see that all aspects of life are interconnected.

 

 

The oppression and discrimination of women can be seen when examining aspects of the environment. Within it you can find your identity. Our class, sex, gender, race, social groups, etc., all define who we are. The labels we use, and boxes we put ourselves into, all contribute to this identity, but also give us a sense of community. These connections are what make us stronger, as there is strength in numbers. To name a few, I am white, bisexual, an activist, college student, and female. I might not know anyone personally who would use the same labels but I know there is a community for each of those traits. That community is what connects me to other women (and also men because ecofeminism is not just limited to women alone). We are all of the Earth and will one day return to it.

 

“Individual elements are lost to view, only to reappear again and again in different incarnations in a kind of material immortality.” – Rachel Carson

 

While researching images for last week’s post, I came across an artist named Brian Kirhagis. His E.A.R.T.H. series are some of the images used for this post. I feel as if they capture this interconnectedness. They show a woman who is made up of different things in nature. I feel strongly that they are a visual representation of the overarching topics we’ve discussed all semester and wanted to include them. To check out the rest of his series, click here.

 

 

 

The Earth is constantly compared to women, as she is our provider of life, sustenance, and the place we call home. In previous posts, I’ve mentioned how deep this connection is and it makes sense the more you think about it. We only have one chance at keeping Mother Earth alive, so why do things that will continue to bring forth her destruction? How does the government come into play with this destruction?

In their article, Gender Equality and State Environmentalism, Norgaard and York dive into the theory that the more women that hold political titles, the more care there is for that environment. In their study, the make connections between the representation, and lack of, across numerous countries and determine if there is a positive outcome to having female representation in these positions.

They state that “women are more likely than men to express support for environmental protection” (3) and that “women are more concerned about the environment because they have been socialized to be family nurturers and caregivers” (3). Both of these statements make sense. So why is there a lack of representation? “If more women are prone to supporting the environmental movement than are men, increased representation of women in government might be expected to influence the behavior of nation-states with respect to the environment” (4).

Male centered government practices tend to be more destructive. By that I mean they disregard the smaller details of who/what they are impacting, so long as they meet their end goal; which usually is in some regard to money. Norgaard and York state that “the presence of sexism (as well as poverty and racism) enables social elites, corporations, and industry to maintain an appearance of progress and success while engaging in activities that are damaging not only to individual communities but to global ecological systems as well” (5). The first thing that came to mind when I read this is the recent discussion of The Willow Project.

The Willow Project was started by a company called ConocoPhillips with the intention of beginning new oil drilling in Alaska’s North Slope. They are set to begin drilling in 2027 and will last roughly 20 years. The company, as well as the American government, claim that this will help the state of Alaska and “put America back on the map, globally” (Harris on Colbert). And yes, that quote is from our first female Vice President; for the whole interview, click here. What they fail to tell us is how this will impact the environment, the communities, and the Earth overall.

This project will require “oiling drilling sites, compromise road access, disrupt pipelines, and a processing plant in order to aid in the production of various oils, gasses, and petroleum” (greenly.earth). Aside from the resources needed, the Arctic is already warming up at an alarming rate, sending numerous species of wildlife towards extinction. Indigenous communities are suffering from the loss of land, food, and their natural way of life. AND the amount of greenhouse gasses this project would produce will make it impossible for the US to ‘continue’ to move towards cleaner emission reductions and fight against climate change.

There is major controversy around this project as the Biden Administration just approved it but where were the voices of environmental activists? There were many who protests outside The White House and over 3 million that signed a change.org petition against this project. Our voices have been taken away from us.

The world isn’t all that bad as Sweden is working hard for a better future. The city of Stockholm has become one of the biggest hubs for environmental research and has also put their words to action. Sweden is working towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future through: renovating industrial areas into low-energy housing, electric transport and bikes, sustainable housing and urban parks, and numerous other accomplishments. More can be found on their site, here.

Through Norgaard and York’s research, they found that Sweden is one of the top ranking countries with women in parliament and with better care for the environment. Their “results are also consistent with theoretical claims by feminist theorists that sexism and environmental degradation are interconnected processes” (9).

The European Institute for Gender Equality discusses how women are so heavily underrepresented in the decision-making process in regard to the environment and climate change. One shocking statistic states that “26.8% of government ministers responsible for policies on the environment and climate change are women, while 73.2% are men”. They continue to state that this is the highest number of women in these positions that we’ve ever had, although female representation is still severely lacking.

Their site continues with other statistics and charts for more focused topics such as: farming, healthcare, education and international climate change discussions. I’m thankful that women are included in some of these conversations but our voices are still being overpowered by these male-centric societies. Norgaard and York conclude their article reaffirming these truths; “societies with greater overall equality might also be expected to be more environmentally friendly. Such an outcome is predicted by ecofeminist theory based on the logic of domination” (13).

Tell me your thoughts in the comments. Should the rest of the world adapt the Green Policies Sweden is working towards? How do you think the Willow Project with impact the rest of the world? Why are women still so underrepresented if the world claims to be so equal?

https://greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/ecology-news/why-is-the-conocophillips-willow-project-controversial-in-the-us

Warning: Explicit Language Used

Marketing tactics always try their best to find a way to create an image that will best sell their products. For many restaurants and food advertisements, “women are animalized and animals are sexualized and feminized” (Adams 13).  Western culture has become so focused on the fetishization of women that they are not seen as actual, living, breathing humans. Like most animals, they are only seen as a piece of meat and something to abuse.

The female experience is being controlled by misogynistic “graphic and artistic depictions, men’s description of their violence against women, women’s description of their experience of sexual violence, the use of and harm to animals’ by batterers to create control over their sexual partner, and in advertisements and other discussions of meat as food” (Adams 13). Like animals in the meat industry, women are seen as an animal who only has one purpose: to reproduce and abuse until the oppressor decides they’ve done their duty. In an interview, ecofeminist Carol J. Adams suggests “that a cycle of objectification, fragmentation, and consumption links butchering and sexual violence in our culture” (13).

“Meat advertisements show us how pornographers do this: take a defeated being, in this case a dead animal, and pose him or her according to a pornographic convention, say, a restaurant that sells dead lobsters claiming ‘Nice tail;’ barbequed pigs posed as young women (all pink, signifying whiteness), hanging on the arms of men; anorexic cows; chickens in high heels. In each case: She is dead and yet she wants it. Wants what? Wants sex; wants to be sexually used; wants to be consumed” (Adams 15). The comparison between the meat and porn industries is astonishing. Before reading Adams interview, I never once realized how similar they are. Both are done for a male audience, to lure them to satisfy their hunger; whether literal or sexual.

To advertise a “Late Nite” menu, this restaurant made the choice to give the burger legs, covered in fishnet tights, and red heels. The sexualization of a burger is completely unnecessary, yet the decision was made to draw the sign in this manner to lure in the male audience. In addition to the image, there is a thought bubble that states “Eat Me”. This erotic statement only proves how the pornography industry is ever present in other aspects of our culture. The media often states how men fetishize female legs, and how they are used to get a mans attention. Usually in movies or television shows, a woman is sent to gain favor with a man because she ‘has better legs’; meaning she is about to ‘use her assets’ to distract the ‘dumb’ man and get what she wants.

This next image is absolutely disgusting. “Breast-aurant”. You’re fucking kidding, right? Hooters is one example of the most vile sexual exploitation and obscene control over women. As if the food industry wasn’t sexualized enough, you want women to wear uncomfortable bras to make their breasts look larger, skimpy shorts, and come from the kitchen with a mans food? I’m not knocking down anyone that works there. In a man’s world, it’s hard to find a job anywhere. All over the internet there are stories of women who have worked for Hooters, sharing just a few of the ways they were being controlled while working there. Twin Peaks is another restaurant that exploits women in the same manner. The one thing that really angers me about this article is the word choice. “Augment”? This is a very obvious dig at the establishment, suggesting it undergo changes to ‘enhance it’s features’, much like a women would during any type of plastic surgery. Typically these surgeries are only done to gain favor with a man, which is a bullshit standard in this patriarchal society.

This subject I feel strongly about because I genuinely despise how women have to subject themselves to this kind of patriarchal oppression. Like I had said before, I don’t want to knock down the women that do pursue this kind of work. What makes me sick is how the men who attend these establishments feel entitled to continue to sexualize and dehumanize these women. And it’s not just with white women. Lisa Kemmerer’s article analyzes the work of Adams and furthers her sentiment in stating “advertisements with African American women, revealing African Americans as more likely to be linked with animals and nature, available to white men, and insatiable”.

This post was likely meant to be humorous however, it only shows how women are animalized in this comparison. Thanksgiving itself is a holiday built upon the rape, destruction, murder, and oppression of indigenous nations; but that is different conversation for another time. In this lascivious comparison, both women and turkey are seen as an object of consumption for male pleasure. Here, women are not human. They are not people. They are a plaything, something to be exploited, used, then tossed aside like the bone of a turkey leg when all the meat is gone.

The #womennotobjects project was created  as a protest against the sexualization of women. While not all of the advertisements in this video are food related, the argument still stands. Women are exploited and used as props in advertisements of all kinds. From alcohol to food, to  high end products like Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs, women and their animal counterparts have been defiled in these advertisements.

As I was reading the materials this week and scouring the internet for more examples of this demeaning nature between women and meat, I found myself enraged. While writing this post, I felt physically sick. It’s fucking ridiculous. This can’t be the world that we live in.

As someone who practices a vegetarian lifestyle, I do my best to purchase dairy products from decent sources. I’ve contemplated switching to veganism but if I’m being honest, it’s really difficult. The joke I regularly make is that I like my cheese and ice cream too much. After reading Adams interview and learning more about these lewd advertisements I despise everything about the meat industry. Currently, I live with my boyfriend and his father (we’re saving to buy a house but that market sucks currently too) and it’s hard enough trying to keep to a vegetarian lifestyle with someone who doesn’t understand how another human just doesn’t eat meat. I’m not sure how to go about explaining veganism and how to make that switch without causing an argument with his father; someone who refuses to accept that there other lifestyles aside from his and not just speaking on the subject of food.

Women are not animals. Animals are not sexual objects. Food is necessary for survival, not something to sexualize. Women and animals are not something to be used to satiate male hunger.

“Vegetarian food leaves a deep impression on our nature. If the whole world adopts vegetarianism, it can change the destiny of humankind.” – Albert Einstein

The image above is of a male figure cutting into a slab of meat. The way in which the man is standing is almost as if he has conquered something. The first thing that came to mind is this painting of George Washington; a strong and powerful man who has just conquered his enemy in battle. That’s the same connotation that meat evokes in the conversation relating to men. It is seen as the “manly” choice (Eisenberg). Choosing any other option will emasculate the male ego, which we can’t have that happen, can we?

We can clearly see two knives, one the man is using to cut the meat and the other is protruding from the top. Typically, when cutting into a slab of meat, one uses a knife to cut and a fork to hold it in place. This image shows two knives, the second not being used for anything which can lead the viewer to think more into the barbaric practice of the meat industry. 

Burgers and wings are two foods that most people associate with men. They’re often paired with a beer and a sports game. Don’t get me wrong, I also like to enjoy a beer with my sports but it is something we’ve been conditioned to associate with masculinity. They’re messy to eat, often stain clothes, and no one bats an eye when the juices or sauces are all over a mans face. The male image has been constructed to portray only the things that will show their strength, virility, and brawn.

Salads, smoothies, or really just vegetables are more associated with femininity. Society has set certain rules and regulations for the female body image. Lighter calorie food options are “more feminine” options because of the smaller amounts of protein. The female image is supposed to be dainty, fragile, small. Lighter, smaller portioned food options are associated with this.

I have been a vegetarian for most of my life. I ate meat until about the age of three. It was around then that red meat started making me sick if I ate it, I decided pork in any form was gross, and would occasionally eat chicken. When I was about halfway through middle school I learned about how bad the meat industry really is and how poorly chickens are treated. As far as seafood goes, I won’t go anywhere near it. The fishing industry is just as bad and I don’t want to contribute to that.

When I was in the nightmare world of dating, I had guys either cancel a date or try to “convert” me because of my vegetarian lifestyle. It was also common for someone to wave money in my face, offering to pay me to eat a steak. “Don’t you just want to bite into a nice, juicy burger?” or “How could you be a vegetarian? You’re missing out on all the best food. ” are just two statements I’ve heard countless times in my life. Men, at least in my experience, don’t want to take the time to learn about another way of life because it would in some way impact them directly.

Most of my reasons for being a vegetarian are because I simply don’t like it, but a larger portion of it is due to moral reasoning. In her essay, Contextual Moral Vegetarianism, Deane Curtin discusses the ways in which vegetarianism directly concerns ecofeminists. Curtin describes vegetarianism as “a moral obligation that results from rights that nonhuman animals have in virtue of being sentient beings”. From a feminist perspective, why stop at vegetarianism? Why not continue to refrain from all foods that involve the abuse of animals and become vegan? “the consumption of eggs and milk have in common that they exploit the reproductive capacities of the female” (Curtin).

Ecofeminist, Greta Gaard discussed the relationship between humans and animals in her article, Ecofeminism on the Wing: Perspectives on Human-Animal Relations. Her article compares the similar natures between having an animal as a pet and having an animal in the food industry. She explains that “speciesism is defined as the oppression of  one species by another” and alludes that feminists should concern themselves with this issue as they are both forms of oppression that need to be addressed (Gaard 2).

Both Curtin and Gaard express their thoughts about the morality of vegetarianism. Should we, as women, decide to live a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle? There are some women that choose to take on this challenge as a way to protest the patriarchal constructs of society and not contribute to the abuse of animals in the food industry.

Choosing to live this lifestyle “marks a daily, bodily commitment to resist ideological pressures to conform to patriarchal standards, and to establishing contexts in which caring for can be nonabusive” (Curtin).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two images are from my hometown of Turbotville, Pennsylvania. Never heard of it? Yeah, I’m not surprised. It’s one of those small farm towns that’s been the same for at least the past forty years. It’s much like Mayberry. Everyone knows each other. There’s a grocery store, bank, and hardware store in the heart of town; and the only traffic you run into is when you’re stuck behind the Amish with their horse and buggy.

I come from a family of farmers. Some of us are in rural New York on the dairy farm, others are in Pennsylvania. Before then we were Irishmen from Cork, looking for a better opportunity, finding work building America’s railroad network. For us, the landscapes may have changed but by the end of the day, appreciating the world around us and admiring the beauty in nature is one thing my family still values.

I moved around a lot growing up. Each place was somewhere new, in a new state, getting less and less rural every time. None of those places ever felt like home. I was unhappy with my surroundings, felt extremely disconnected, and longed for the same feeling of my tiny little farm town.

Last year I made the move from Charlotte, NC to Pittsburgh, PA. I never saw myself as someone who would love the city but I have never been happier. As I’m writing this I’m coming to the realization that I have always been by a body of water. In Turbotville there’s the Susquehanna River, Charlotte was close to Lake Norman, and now Pittsburgh the city known for its many bridges that cross the Allegheny. All the other places I’ve lived were near a river or lake as well. “Falling in love with a place, being in love with a place, wanting to care for a place and see it remain intact as a wild piece of the planet” is the one thing Williams states in her article that I feel captures the feeling of home (8).

Pittsburgh doesn’t have corn fields that go on for miles, farm animals that are around every corner, or the openness of untouched family land. It does however, have the same sense of community. Every person I have come into contact with has a deep love for this city. Each for varying reasons but their conclusions are all the same. This city feels like home. This city is their family. This city is proud of the mud brown waters that make up the Allegheny.

Kingsolver states “People will need wild places. Whether or not they think they do, they do. They need to experience a landscape that is timeless” (2) and it’s true. Although, I don’t think we need to go to the middle of the woods, with no cell service, to be able to find that sense of wilderness.  The beauty of nature is everywhere, we just need to slow down to find it. During the summer I travel back to my tiny farm town and use that as my time to reset. I cannot begin to describe the feeling of happiness when driving down a backroad, windows down, and breathing in all the fresh air.

Cities are often associated with chaos, whereas nature is seen as peaceful, calm. The traditional sense of nature does not exist here but the history does. The night sky still shines bright with all her stars, birds still sing their sweet tune, and the flora still grows. We can all experience the sense of serenity that Kingsolver and Williams speak of, regardless of where we are, if we just take a moment to slow down and appreciate our surroundings.

Ecofeminism stresses the idea that women are connected to nature. Both Kingsolver and Williams present the argument that to be connected to nature we must in fact be surrounded by it. I think this varies person to person and how they define nature themselves. For some it could be a trip to a cabin for some peace while writing, like Kingsolver. Others might share the importance of our histories, like Williams. For me, it’s both. Some days all I can do is walk outside and stand with my bare feet in the grass, listening to the breeze.

I don’t think one thing is greater than the other. For those that live in the city, there are pieces of nature all around them if only they turn off the noise of the concrete jungle. Each experience with nature is valid. No one person will take the same thing away from it as we are all individuals with unique histories.

“We women, in all our vibrant and fabulous diversity, have witnessed the increasing aggression against the human spirit, human mind and human body and the continued invasion of an assault upon the Earth and all her diverse species.” – Navadanya

 

Vandana Shiva has become a well-known activist in India after deciding to fight for environmental issues when discovering her “favorite childhood forest had been cleared and a stream drained so that an apple orchard could be planted” (Britanica). Since then she has obtained a few degrees in order to continue to fight against the ecological crisis that has plagued our world. There is a great need to protect the environment, especially the forests in the global south. In an interview with Scott London, Shiva states “people who are dependent on natural resources, on biodiversity, on the land, the forests, the water. Nature is their means of production. So for them ecological destruction is a form of injustice. When the forest is destroyed, when the river is dammed, when the biodiversity is stolen, when fields are waterlogged or turned saline because of economic activities, it is a question of survival for these people”.

 

Like Shiva, Bina Agarwal is an Indian feminist who focuses heavily on environmental injustices, but more specifically the relationship between women and nature. In her article, The Gender and Environment Debate: Lessons from India , Agarwal compares “feminist environmentalism” (119) in the United States and rural India. She states that “Third World women are dependent on nature…the destruction of nature thus becomes the destruction of women’s sources for ‘staying alive'” (124).

When we think of women’s issues we often forget that they happen all over the world, not just where we live.  There are many countries in the global south that are suffering the effects of environmental degradation, resulting in major concern and the need for change. Some of the issues women in these countries face are: safe access to water, sanitation/hygiene, deforestation, forced displacement, lack of female representation in political issues, and general safety concerns.

Women and girls are the ones who are responsible for retrieving water. Because they have to do this by foot, often more than once a day, it leaves them at a higher risk of being attacked, and interferes with their education or making a living. Along with this, sanitation is a major issue.  Having to use a toilet outside or sharing a bathroom with men has proven to be a problem. Sharing these bathrooms with men puts them at a greater risk for abuse or attack.  The UN stated “a clean, functional, lockable, gender-segregated space is needed, with access to sanitary products and disposal systems, for women and girls to manage menstrual hygiene and pregnancy”.

Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are extremely important and should have women’s voices involved. Women know what they need and know how things should change for the betterment of their safety, health, and education. One would think we would ask women to have a seat at the table and include their thoughts on how to better their society, and cater to their needs.

Hobgood-Oster references many of these same issues in her article, but speaks more from an objective Western perspective. She speaks more  on the feminine connection to nature and how religion plays a role in patriarchal domination. Both Hobgood-Oster and Agarwal refer to many of the same topics: the oppression of women is a global issue, many protests have occurred in an attempt to fight for women and the environment, and violence has been used against women to silence them in their fight for these issues.

Of these two perspectives, I found both very interesting but enjoyed reading Hobgood-Oster more. I found her references to religion and science to be very informative and it made more sense to me. Both religion and science are two subjects that I enjoy reading about and with the connection to ecofeminism, weaponized or not, I found it easier to understand and relate to. That being said, I feel like part of that comes from my privilege and reading Agarwal really made me rethink some of the “issues” I have in my life and fight for sustainability. Because I don’t live in a third world country, I have better access to a lot of things and don’t have to worry as much about my livelihood being destroyed. Reading her article and the interview with Shiva put a lot of things in perspective for me and only makes me want to continue this fight.

I don’t think it should be so separated. I understand that some places in the world aren’t as technologically advanced or have easy access to clean water. There are women in those countries that are struggling to keep each other safe and protect their homes. Reading about this issues makes me wish I had a genie to solve these problems, but sadly that is not how the world works.

Educating ourselves, not only on issues in our part of the world, and learning that this fight is bigger than our small community is so important. We must protect our Earth in order to also protect ourselves.

 

https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-and-gender

Feminism has become wildly more popular in recent years as the new wave continues to reach across many generations. But what is ecofeminism and how do the environment and women relate to each other? What is the patriarchy? What does witchcraft have to do with ecofeminism?

Oxford dictionary defines the patriarchy as “a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line”. In more simplified terminology, the patriarchy is a male centered or dominated system. This is most evident in the American government and presidential history, most large corporations, the Church, and pretty much every other major system that holds any type of power.

Ecofeminism is the philosophy that claims “patriarchal structures justify their dominance through categorical or dualistic hierarchies: heaven/earth, mind/body, male/female, human/animal, spirit/matter, culture/nature, white/non-white. Established oppressive systems continue to manifest their abusive powers by reinforcing assumptions of these binaries, even making them sacred through religious and scientific constructs” (Oster 2).  A more simplified answer is that the patriarchy asserts control and dominance over “lesser” groups based on the previously existing systems of oppression.  Ecofeminism also argues that environmental issues ARE feminist issues. There is a celestial bond between women and nature that has existed for thousands of years and it has been persecuted by the patriarchy for just as long.

When hearing the term “witchcraft” or “pagan” one might think of the children’s Hocus Pocus or a silly costume on Halloween.  While these are more modern associations, paganism has been practiced by many across the world since the beginning of time. One paganistic practice that has suffered greatly comes from the country of Ireland. The ancient Celtic practice is “centered on the interplay of the divine element with the natural world. Springs, rivers, and hills were thought to be inhabited by guardian spirits, usually female” (Britannica).  Celtic paganism very much aligns with ecofeminist philosophies. They believe in the preservation of nature and thought there was a living spirit in each natural things, much like the Japanese practice of Shintoism. Some held religious ceremonies in the forest to deepen their connection with nature and revere the Celtic goddess Brigid. She is known for protecting women and children, preventing natural disaster and healing. Some things that she is associated with are motherhood, fertility, passion, and the divine feminine.

I know we’re all familiar with St. Patrick’s Day and how he ‘drove the snakes out of Ireland’. These “snakes” weren’t actually snakes. They were women and men who practiced an ancient Celtic belief. Within the Christian belief, snakes are associated with the devil and paganism. With the crusade of spreading Christianity, St. Patrick wanted to fully convert the pagan practitioners to his Christian belief. There is evidence stating that this conversion began before St. Patrick and continued after him. He was made a religious symbol and Ireland began it’s conversion to a male-centered belief, leaving the Brigid and reverence of nature behind. The old world was making it’s shift a nature centered society to one that is male-dominated and destructive. 

This example may not seem like a major issue, compared to many other issues ongoing in our world, but freedom of religion and faith has been something that most countries have. Over the course of history, other religions led by men, in the reverence of a male centered figure, have overcome all other practices and severed the divine connection between humanity and mother Earth. In a male dominated world, we have lost respect for nature, and ancient tradition of reverence.  This was ” an effort to establish a patriarchal order and to control forces assumed to be chaotic repeats itself consistently” (Oster 4). These beautiful goddesses have been replaced by a man, nature is not the focal point, and many women have lost faith in themselves or their own abilities.

Through every culture there is a variation of a goddess that is representative of the Earth. In Greece they have many female figures that represent the Earth: Gaia, Demeter, Persephone, Artemis. In Africa they have Asase Afua, in Hinduism they have Prithvi or Bhumi. I could go on with every different culture across the world and share how each and every one of them have a female figure who represents the Earth. If you’re interested in learning more, below is a Wiki link that has a list of deities across every culture and what they represent. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nature_deities

In most forms of paganism, nature is the center of the witch’s practice. It’s not what the media claims it to be. Paganism is not a devil-worshiping cult that dances naked in the woods and sacrifices a man on the night of a full moon. For me personally, it’s a way to connect with my ancestors and regain my power as a woman in learning how I can health the Earth as much as she heals me. With this belief, I see more of the beauty in nature and want to do what I can to preserve it and fight for it. Every morning I receive notifications of ongoing environmental issues and that makes me belief so much more important to me. I don’t have to subscribe to a male-centered belief and listen to whatever nonsense our patriarchal society wants me to believe. In my practice I choose what I want to believe. I define my connection and empowerment to nature. I have the freedom to fight for Mother Earth and protect her rapidly fading world.

I’m not using this as a soapbox to convert others to what I believe. Personally, I don’t think anyone should, especially when it comes to religion. I practice a more eclectic form of paganism because of how empowered and connected I feel to nature.  In my belief I see nature for what it is and want to protect it. I feel the same about women’s rights. Both of these things, in my experience and opinion, are deeply connected and cannot exist without the other. As it’s seen in the Celtic belief, women would be something we hold in reverence along with nature. The point of this post is to enlighten others on one of the ways in which ecofeminism has been a philosophy longer than any of us have been alive and explain how that practice was shattered when a group of men decided they knew what was best.

Below I have the two sites I referenced. They’re full of great information if anyone is interested in learning more.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Celtic-religion/The-Celtic-gods#ref65540

https://wildhunt.org/2016/03/saint-patrick-druids-snakes-and-popular-myths-revisited.html