International Studies Compendium Project

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Comment on this article   Ecofeminism is both an ecological philosophy and a social movement that draws on environmental studies, critiques of modernity and science, and feminist critical analyses and activism to explicate connections between women and nature, and the implications of these relationships for environmental politics. Ecofeminists themselves embrace a wide range of views concerning the causal role of Western dualistic thinking, patriarchal structures of power, and capitalism in ecological degradation and the oppression of women and other subjugated peoples. Collectively, they find value in extending feminist analyses to the simultaneous interrogation of the domination of both nature and women. For most ecofeminists, ecological sustainability ultimately depends on elevating the economic and political roles that women play in society at all levels of organization. This essay proceeds with an intellectual history of ecofeminism that briefly summarizes key ecofeminist texts and actions that have contributed to the development of this interdisciplinary subdiscipline and social movement. On the basis of this introductory history, the essay provides a more detailed discussion of major divisions within ecofeminism – liberal, cultural, socialist, and postmodern – as a basis for understanding the utility of gender analyses for global environmental politics (GEP). Specifically, ... log in or subscribe to read full text