Environment and Feminism - Ecofeminist Theory and...

Ecofeminist Theory and Sustainable Development People have to be able to work together if they are to realize the shared destiny and to preserve a habitable environment for generations to come. Albert Bandura, 1995 Banduras words epitomize the spirit of environmental education and its challenges of community cooperation, trans-generational communication and sustainable development. The success of these challenges depends on the ability to pass on knowledge about the environment to future generations in order for them to better understand how to maintain a sustainable relationship with nature. In this era of globalization and neo-liberalist policies, maintaining a sustainable relationship with the environment needs to be†¦show more content†¦Ecofeminism Ecofeminism is a liberationist philosophy that combines emancipatory elements of feminism with the environmental concerns of ecology. It has become a movement that sees the connection between the exploitation and degradation of the natural world and the subordination and oppression of women (Mellor, 1997, p.1). Ecofeminists view women as victims of the same patriarchal tyranny that dominates nature (Castells, 1997). Karen Warren (1996) identifies eight connections between feminism and the environment. Although it is not necessary to discuss all eight connections, understanding several of Warrens connections is essential in relating non-formal education at a local level to the fostering of environmentally proactive behavior. Historical Connections Between Feminism and Ecology The first essential connection draws causal links from a historical perspective. The argument is that at some point in human history a change occurred that lead to the concurrent male domination of females and nature. Some scholars argue the change happened with the onset of the scientific revolution (Merchant, 1980), while others (Spretnak, Reisler as cited in Warren, 1996) might argue it occurred much earlier. Salleh (1988) stresses the relevance of including the historical connection between feminism and ecology in a discussion of sustainable development: Ecofeminism is a recent development inShow MoreRelatedEssay about Ecofeminism4924 Words   |  20 Pagesrecognizes the cultural and political links between ecology and feminism. Ecofeminism is a value system, a social movement, and a practice. It criticizes the mainstream green movement and challenges the fundamental ideas of the western patriarchy about women, nature science, and development. Ecofeminism is an admixture of ecology and feminism. A French feminist, Francoise dEaubonne, first used it in 1974 (Mellor, 1997 p. 44). Ecological feminism focuses on gender as a category of analysis and the perspectives