- Sampale Jyoti Digambar
Abstract
Ecofeminism is a
literary and cultural theory that links women with nature. Both are dominated
by men in the society, this is revealed and exposed in Ecofeminism. It is a
recent movement that claims environment is a feminist issue and feminism is an
environmental issue. It considers that there is a mystical connection between women and nature. The well-known phrase ‘Mother-Earth’
exemplifies what Ecofeminism is. “The child in the womb knows only mother as
his creator, he is nourished and developed by the mother. In the same way, the
earth is like a mother nourishing, developing human life.”
Key Words- Ecofeminism,
Mother-Earth, creator, mystical, nourished.
BioNote: Sampale Jyoti Digambar
is an Associate Professor at Havagiswami College, Udgir
What is Ecofeminism?
Ecofeminism is an
offspring of feminism and Ecocriticism.Ecofeminism Also called as ecological feminism, branch of feminism that
studies the connections between women and nature. Its name was coined by French
feminist Fran├зoise d’Eaubonne in 1974. Ecofeminism uses the basic feminist
tenets of equality between genders. It is a social movement emerged out of
issue of inferiority both of women and nature. To these notions ecofeminism
adds both a commitment to the environment and an awareness of the associations
made between women and nature. Specifically, this philosophy emphasizes the
ways both nature and women are treated by patriarchal (or male-centred)
society. Eco feminists examine the effect of gender categories in order to
demonstrate the ways in which social norms exert unjust dominance over women
and nature. Its practitioners advocate an alternative worldview that values the
earth as sacred, recognizes humanity’s dependency on the natural world, and
embraces all life as valuable.This theory also aims at solving the critical
environmental issues of global warming, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, pollution. These are perhaps the greatest
challenges of the 21st century.
Origin of Ecofeminism-
The modern ecofeminism
movement was born out of a series of conferences and workshops held in the
United States by a coalition of academic and professional women during the late
1970s and early 1980s. They met to discuss the ways in which feminism and
environmentalism might be combined to promote respect for women and the natural
world. They noted that women and nature were often depicted as chaotic,
irrational, and in need of control, while men were frequently characterized as
rational, ordered, and thus capable of directing the use and development of
women and nature. Eco feminists contend that this arrangement results in a
hierarchical structure that grants power to men and allows for the exploitation
of women and nature.
Early Eco feminists
firstly tried documenting historical connections between women and the
environment and then looking for ways to severe those connections. One founder
of ecofeminism,theologian Rosemary Reuther, insisted that all women must
acknowledge and work to eradicate the domination of nature if they were to work
toward their own emancipation. She urged women and environmentalists to work
together to end patriarchal systems that privilege control, and unequal
socioeconomic relations.
The theory has its origin also in western
society’s hierarchical dualism (Culture/nature, man/woman etc.) today there are
number of eco feminist approaches emerged: spiritual/cultural Ecofeminism,
Social/Materialist Ecofeminism, Radical ecofeminism and Liberal ecofeminism.
Radical Ecofeminism and Cultural Ecofeminism-
Radical Eco feminists
contend that the dominant patriarchal society equates nature and women in order
to degrade both. Radical ecofeminism builds on the assertion of early Eco
feminists that one must study patriarchal domination with an eye toward ending
the associations between women and nature. It emphasizes to tear apart
structures through action.
Cultural Eco feminists,
on the other hand, encourage an association between women and the environment.
They contend that women have a more intimate relationship with nature because
of their gender roles (e.g., family nurturer and provider of food) and their
biology. As a result, cultural Ecofeminists
believe that such associations allow women to be more sensitive to the sanctity
and degradation of the environment. Cultural ecofeminism also has roots in
nature-based religions and goddess and nature worship as a way of redeeming
both the spirituality of nature and women’s instrumental role in that
spirituality.
Goals of Ecofeminism-
1 Eradication of
exploitative experiences towards women and nature.
2 To reveal the concept
of domination of men over both women and nature.
Future Prospects of ecofeminism-
All people and all governments have to cooperate for eradication of natural destruction
and women's oppression. There is a need of
positive attitude towards women and nature only then the problem can be
overcome.
The role of Women as Preservers-
A female draws out various characteristics
which are different from that of a male.
Womanhood is the period in a female’s life. Women have some very important
biological functions these mechanisms influence the behavioural patterns of a
female. Another such noticeable factor is psychological. She prefers to share
and care and possesses an emotional mind when compared to that of men. Emotional intelligence is to be found
better in women than in men. The essence of being a woman is sharing, caring
and loving. Being a woman is hard work. A
woman is an embodiment of obedience, sacrifice, faith, forgiveness and
kindness. Hence a woman only can hold her entire family together with her care,
love and sacrifice. She also has an adorable enduring capacity that comes from
her inner strength.
A woman’s role in her family is of preserver who nourishes deeply and
preserves values in others life. As the whole
family dependent on her and her mercy, she is a place of safety, success and
love. She strengthens the family with her powerful patience; her divine
presence makes her like a goddess. A woman
transforms a house made up of walls into a loving home with her admirable skills
and blessings. Due to these qualities a female is said to be a preserver for the family and broadly speaking for the
universe. Woman in Indian perspective is more loyal to her family and her
duties towards it. She is the one who sacrifices and compromises many things
for the welfare of her family. Her unflinching faith makes her family to stand
in every testing time, so she is truly a
creator and preserver of values for life.
In one of the most
famous novels of
Ernest Hemingway, “The Old Man and The Sea,''the
writer has depicted philosophical interpretations about the relationship of sea
and a woman in the form of a mother. In this
novel, the sea appears to Santiago as a woman because like her it fascinates
and nourishes him. He is dependent on it and wholly at its mercy. A woman must
be experienced as ‘great’ in the case of a mother. This woman-sea equation of
the novel belongs to the foundation of feminine existence. For Santiago like a
mother, sea was his feeder and preserver. In the novel, Sea’s opposite side can
be perceived as the Terrible Mother who sometimes takes the form of a monster.
Conclusion-
Women are truly carriers of culture and
preservers of identity. They are more close to nature and have knowledge about
plants as foods or medicines.There is no plant which does not have any medical
property. Specifically trees and plants are truly blessings for human beings.
Nature feeds human beings like a mother, so both are preservers of life Hence
respected and not exploited or abused.
References:
1 Adam, Carol ‘Introduction’
In Ecofeminism and the sacred, ed. Carol Adams, New York: Continum,1993.
2 Shiva, Vandana
‘Staying Alive. Women, Ecology and Development in India’ New Delhi, 1995.
3 Nayar, Promod
‘Contemporary literary and cultural theory’. New Delhi,2011.
4 https://www.britannica.com>topic
5 https://en.m.wikipedia.org>wiki
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