What is the meaning of Ecofeminism
Ecofeminism originated from the 1970s when feminism and environmental movements started to become one. Both contribute to the degradation of each subject and intersect with each other. In 1974 a book was published called Le Féminisme ou la More by Francoise d’eaubonne. The title translates to feminism or death. This was the first push of Environmental theories and feminism combined as one. As stated in Ecofeminasm Hobgod-oster, “Ecofeminsm asserts that all forms of oppression are connected and that structures of oppression must be addressed in their totality”. This is stating that All forms of struggle or control are all connected and must be addressed in total instead of separate occasions.
How do concepts of nature and concepts or women align within each other? Are there similarities between the both? The first thing that comes to mind when I think about the connection between women and nature is reproduction and the instinct to nurture. Women are able to bring new life into this world the same way the earth allows trees to grow and gives environments to animals .
you may ask yourself how women and the planet share similarities regarding ecofeminism in a general aspect. There is not just one but multiple factors that lead into the idea that women and the Earth share similar traits. What an ecofeminist does is create an opportunity in life for everything on this planet. We want equality and justice for all living things on this planet.
The Chipko movement is a non- violent social movement in rural villages. Bird Chipco means to hug or grab. This is prevalent as the meaning is much deeper and can be used for many instances. An example from the article “Ecofeminism: Women and Nature” by Ridona Berisha is to hug trees instead of chopping them down for our own use. movement was started in India in the 70s when the government wanted to cut down over two thousand trees near the small villages in india. The term Tree huggers come from this movement as women would hug the trees in the small villages to prevent them from being cut down by the government. This individual movement went on overnight making it impossible to cut the trees down. Later on, the government sided and agreed with the women protecting these trees and the damage it could cause. What movement brought many together and allowed women to come together to promote not only what is right for the environment and the land but what is right for our rights as well.
The Green Belt movement came into place to protect the environment by women and to protect their own lives. When you think of Ecofeminism , it is much more than feminists or Ecology, it is the power of supporting and protecting the environment and what it creates for us which is concordant to women.
Works Cited-
Pikepamja. “Ecofeminism: Women and Nature.” PIKEPAMJA, 23 Sept. 2022, pikepamja.net/en/ecofeminism-women-and-nature/#:~:text=Given%20that%20we%20live%20in,exploitation%20of%20women%20and%20nature.
Hobgood-Oster, Laura. Ecofeminism: Historic and International Evolution , 18 Aug. 2008.