EM 705 – Environmental Science

Ecofeminism

Presented by:

Helen Grace P. Bugnay, MSAE I

 Ecofeminism

Ecofeminism is a branch of
feminism that sees
environmentalism, and the
relationship between
women and the earth, as
foundational to its analysis
and practice.
Ecofeminist thinkers draw on the concept of gender to analyse
the relationships between humans and the natural world. The
term was coined by the French writer Françoise d'Eaubonne in
her book Le Féminisme ou la Mort (1974).

Ecofeminist theory asserts that a feminist perspective of ecology

does not place women in the dominant position of power, but
rather calls for an egalitarian, collaborative society in which
there is no one dominant group.
 Charlene Spretnak has offered one
way of categorizing ecofeminist work:

 through the study of political theory as well

as history;
 through the belief and study of nature –
based religions;
 through environmentalism.
 Ecofeminist Framework

Four sides of ecofeminist framework:

 The mechanistic materialist model of the

universe that resulted from the scientific
revolution and the subsequent reduction of all
things into mere resources to be optimized, dead
inert matter to be used.

 The rise of patriarchal religion and their

establishment of gender hierarchies along with
their denial of immanent divinity.
 Ecofeminist Framework

Four sides of ecofeminist framework:

 Self and other dualisms and the inherent power

and domination ethic it entails.

 Capitalism and its claimed intrinsic need for the

exploitation, destruction and instrumentalization
of animals, earth and people for the sole purpose
of creating wealth.
 Some Concepts of Ecofeminism
• Modern Science and Ecofeminism
 Concepts of Ecofeminism
• Vegetarian Ecofeminism
 Concepts of Ecofeminism
• Materialist Ecofeminism
 Concepts of Ecofeminism
• Spiritual/Cultural Ecofeminism
Famous Ecofeminism Movements
 Women on the frontline against
climate change
• A strong female presence in environmental
movements has been documented for decades.
From the Chipko movement in India in the 1970s
to more recent protests against a cement plant in
Indonesia, it was no accident that all of the
protesters were female. The link between women
and the environment even has its own political
theory, known as ecofeminism.
• In this episode of Down to Earth, we look at why
so many girls and young women are engaged in
action on climate change.
Greta Thunberg
- Is a Swedish activist
who, at age 15, began
protesting outside
the Swedish
parliament in August
2018 about the need
for immediate action
to combat climate
change.

girls are taking actions much

earlier on, in their early teenage
years.
Brazil's indigenous
women protest
against Brazil
President Bolsonaro
policies
Regina Paz "Gina" La'O López (December 27, 1953 – August 19, 2019) was a
Filipino environmentalist and philanthropist who served as Secretary of the
Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)