Laura de Grado | Madrid – May 7, 2024
In a world where environmental degradation, capitalist crisis, gender inequality and armed conflict are urgent challenges, activists and thinkers see ecofeminism as a beacon of hope and action. More than a simple theory, ecofeminism is a cry of resistance, a call to action that addresses the intersections between gender oppression and environmental degradation. A roadmap to build a fairer and more sustainable future for future generations.
This is claimed by five essential books on ecofeminism. From the fundamental theories of María Mies and Vandana Shiva to the transformative experiences of the indigenous women of Abya Yalaeach work invites us to rethink relationships with nature.
A book to know the origin of the term ecofeminism
The book Françoise d’Eaubonne and Ecofeminismwritten by Caroline Goldblum, immerses us in the life and ideas of a fundamental figure in the development of ecofeminism. Francoise d’Eaubonne, feminist thinker and close friend of Simone de Beauvoir, is recognized for coining the term “ecofeminism” in 1974 and for her tireless activism in the fight for women’s rights and environmental preservation.
From an early age, d’Eaubonne showed a deep sensitivity to gender issues and social justice. As she herself expressed it: “I have been a feminist since I was 11 years old. In fact, at that age I was reprimanded in the Dominican convent where I grew up for writing Long live feminism! on the pavement of the cloister of the ladies’ convent.”
This precocious awareness was influenced by her mother, one of the first women to pursue scientific studies at university. Throughout her life, d’Eaubonne dedicated herself to write feminist essays, novels, poetry, theater and even children’s literature and science fiction.
One of the most notable facets of his activism was his participation in the fight for decriminalization and legalization of abortionbeing one of the signatories of the ‘Manifesto of the 343 sluts’ in 1971. In addition, she founded the Center for Ecology-Feminism, from where she promoted dialogue and joint action between the feminist and environmental movements.
D’Eaubonne also campaigned against other forms of oppression. He stood out for his criticism of psychiatry and his commitment to homosexual cause, becoming part of the Homosexual Front for Revolutionary Action (FHAR).
His work Feminism or death (1974) marks one of the fundamental milestones in the development of ecofeminism, where it links ecological and feminist problems, and questions the principles of capitalism and economic growth. According to d’Eaubonne, environmental destruction and patriarchal oppression derive from the same mechanisms of domination and must be addressed together.
Caroline Goldblum highlights the relevance and timeliness of d’Eaubonne’s ecofeminist ideas in a climate emergency context. Remember that ecofeminism is not only a theory, but a call to action to transform our society towards a more just, equal and sustainable one.
A classic that cannot be missed
A classic that cannot be missing from the ecofeminist library is the book Ecofeminism, co-written by Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva, and published by Icaria in Spain. This work is an attempt to bring together the various branches of this powerful current of thought and social movement. It brings together about 20 essays, some already published elsewhere or based on previous works by the authors.
Maria Mies, a retired sociology professor, has been involved in a variety of social movements throughout her life. She began her activism in the women’s movement and later expanded into the environmental movement, the peace movement, and the anti-globalization movement.
On the other hand, Vandana Shiva, PhD in physical sciences, is internationally recognized as a prominent environmentalist, feminist and philosopher of science. Her struggle focuses on opposing the neoliberal model of globalization and defending the rights of people. In 1993, she was awarded the Alternative Nobel Peace Prizein 2010 received the Sydney Peace Prize and directs the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy.
From an intersectional perspective, Mies and Shiva analyze how women, especially in rural and global south contexts, are the main guardians of the land and natural resources, but they are also the most affected by environmental degradation and climate change. Furthermore, they examine how dominant economic policies, based on the unlimited exploitation of natural resources and unlimited growth, perpetuate gender inequality.
According to them, the Western economic and cultural model has been established, maintained and strengthened through the colonization of women, people and their lands, as well as nature itself. This book reviews key concepts of our culture, such as economy, progress or science; Furthermore, it highlights the urgency of adopting a new paradigm that puts a stop to this declared war on life.
Through a combination of theoretical analysis and empirical evidence, this classic work is a testament to these two authors’ commitment to social and environmental justice, and remains relevant in the current context of climate crisis and inequality.
A proposal to “educate for the sustainability of life”
Educate for the sustainability of life; An ecofeminist look at education by Yayo Herrero is an urgent call to rethink the purpose and practice of education in a world plagued by environmental and social crisis. In this book, Herrero reflects on the role of education in building a viable, fair and desirable future for all forms of life on the planet.
For the Spanish anthropologist, engineer, professor and ecofeminist activist, the concept of “educate for the sustainability of life” It involves much more than transmitting academic knowledge. It is about cultivating values such as interdependence with nature, respect for the limits of the planet, mutual care, collaboration, responsibility, social justice and commitment to a sustainable future. It also involves fostering peaceful conflict resolution, courage in the face of challenges, active hope, creativity and empathy towards all forms of life on Earth.
Herrero provides concrete tools to put into practice this transformative vision of education. It highlights the importance of a curriculum that puts life at the center, that recognizes and values the interdependence of all forms of life on Earth.
In addition, he points out inspiring examples, such as the experience of the Fuhem and the approach of Ecologists in Action and the Confederation of Pedagogical Renewal Movementswho are already integrating these perspectives into their educational practices.
Some ecofeminist keys
What does ecofeminism really mean and how has it evolved over time? What is your position on issues such as body care, sexuality and ethics in science and technology? In what way are feminist struggles intertwined with the defense of animal rights? These and other fundamental questions find answers in the pages of Ecofeminist keys: For rebels who love the earth and animalsof the Argentine feminist philosopher Alicia Puleo.
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Through clear language and accompanied by evocative illustrations, the author based in Spain reflects on crucial contemporary issues today.
As she herself expresses: “The universalization of an ecological, post-anthropocentric and post-gender ethic of care is a pending task in education and in our daily practice.” Furthermore, she challenges us to rethink our relationship with nature and society by stating: “Women have been treated as possessions useful for pleasure and reproduction and therefore conceptualized as nature, body and sexuality.”
Through these quotes, Puleo proposes to imagine a world where equality, peace with nature and the absence of human and animal exploitation are a reality. His vision is nourished by Epicurean philosophy, highlighting the importance of pleasure and friendship in the relationship with nature.
The book too bravely and directly addresses the connection between patriarchal violence towards women and violence towards animals. “We are ecofeminists, we want to move towards a culture of peace,” she writes. And she refers to a peace for all beings.
She appeals directly to the feminist movement by stating: “They demand that women be able to enjoy, without fear of abuse, healthy parties, referring to festivities in which the central fun still consists of the harassment and massacre of innocent animals in the street and in the ring. Wouldn’t it be fairer to demand parties? without patriarchal violence towards women and animals?”
Some suffragettes already saw the similarity between sexism and speciesism. However, “that part of the history of feminism has been forgotten,” she claims.
An approach to the defense of the land of indigenous women
The book Indigenous women in defense of the land by the philosopher Aimé Tapia González offers an in-depth look at the movements of resistance of the people of Abya Yala and reflects on the strategies of indigenous women to challenge sexist stereotypes and defend their territorial rights in the context of neoliberal globalization.
Through theoretical analysis and direct testimonies, the author addresses crucial questions about the indigenous feminismsher criticisms of Western feminism and her contribution to a paradigm of sustainability and social justice.
“These feminisms reveal new ethical horizons for thinking and acting on the path towards plural, ecologically sustainable and democratic cultures, which recognize the voices and perspectives of indigenous women,” writes the author.
Tapia González highlights the philosophy rooted in the relationship of the women of the indigenous Mayan, Aymara or Quechua peoples, among others, with nature and their solutions to the contemporary environmental crisis. Through a rigorous but accessible analysis, the author explores the indigenous knowledge that manifest themselves in their languages, resistance movements or daily practices.
This work, aimed at a specialized audience but also accessible to any reader, challenges preconceived conceptions by proposing a way of life based on respect for all forms of life, beyond humanity.
