Today, we're taking a look at a concept we didn't even know existed until a few years ago. Is it possible to have ecological and feminist values? But what exactly is ecofeminism all about?
Ecofeminism, as its name suggests, was born out of a concern for the environment and feminism.
For ecofeminists, nature and women are part of the same ecosystem, and both are dominated and exploited by the dominant political, economic and cultural power - that of man.
Ecofeminism considers that there are levers and causes in common between systems of domination and oppression of women by men and systems of overexploitation of nature by man. this would lead to major climate disruption.
The movement stresses that to enter a resolutely more ecological era, it would be necessary to rethink relations between the sexes as well as between humans and nature.
Ecofeminism takes a stand against this system, in which men see nature as a set of resources to be put at the service of humans, rather than as a living system in its own right. The same applies to women, who have a productive biological power that is seen as a reproductive force that men must control and put at their service.
For ecofeminists, the capitalist and patriarchal system is one in which women and nature are both dominated and used as free resources.
Different ecofeminist movements?
There are indeed different movements within ecofeminism itself. Ecofeminism can be divided into North and South.
In the North, ecofeminism tends more to challenge the "traditional" role of women, i.e. the image of the housewife.
In the South, on the other hand, movements of peasant and indigenous women are challenging intensive, nature-destroying production, but always with a view to the well-being of nature and human well-being, since for them the two are inseparable.
History of ecofeminism
The concept of ecofeminism was first introduced in 1974 by the Frenchwoman Françoise d'Eaubonnein her book "Feminism or Death". For her, a profound transformation of society was needed to overcome our capitalist and patriarchal model, because " women's revolt is in the most immediate interest of humanityxtagstartzspan style="font-weight: 400;"> ". Ecofeminism is seen as a philosophy that goes beyond feminism and ecology. Ecofeminism aims to tackle a global problem, be it environmental, political, social or cultural.
