Ecofeminism, Social ecology

Made by: Boros Rebeka

 Ecofeminism

• No single definition
• Domination of women and the domination of
nature are fundamentally connected
• Liberation of women as women
• Value of the activities associated with women
 Women and Nature
• Nature is portrayed as feminine
• Patriarchal society:
– Sexism
– Racism
– Class exploitation
– Environmental destruction
• Power relations
• Shared power
 Patriarchal Dualism
• Opposed pair of concepts
– Mind is split from body
– Spirit from matter
– Male from female
– Culture from nature
• One is superior to the other
• Complex relationship
 Hierarchy of Value
• God
• Men
• Women
• Children
• Animals
• Nature
• Masquline qualities
• Feminine qualities passive, weak,
irrational
• Degrading of the „other” fear of nature,
mortality
• Ecofeminism demands a radical critique of the
categories of ‘nature’ and ‘culture’
• ‘feminine’ qualities appropriate for
creating an environmentally aware society
• Some ecofeminists believe that traditional
‘male’ qualities are valuable, should be
integrated with ‘female’ qualities
• Most feminists do not see men as the enemy
• Ecofeminism common ground for both
sexes
 The question of Essentialism

• Male and female qualities

– Innate to sexes?
– Human character traits?
• Soft female qualities oppression
• Connection between women and nature
• Men need to work harder
 Re-examining History

• Cooperation not competition

• Learn from the societies
• Separation from nature
• Ideological shift European
Enlightenment
• Universe no longer a living
organism, but a machine
• Spirituality is a core element
 Social Ecology
• Environmental crisis is the result of the
hierarchical organization of power and the
authoritarian mentality rooted in the
structures of our society
• Society is based on:
– Organic unity in diversity
– Free of hierarchy
– Based on mutual respect
• Ecological problems arise from social
problems
• Domination of the environment
• Destiny of human life
• Nature can provide us with with ethical
principal
• Focus: symptoms
• Ethics of complementarity
• Create a fuller, richer world for all beings
• Humans are an expression of a deep natural
process
• Anthropocentricity or biocentricity
• Social domination
• Society without hierarchical structures or
economic classes
 Ecological Society

• Egalitarian society
• Radical collective action
• Co-operative social movements
• Only a true community can solve the
environmental crisis
Thank you for your attention! 