Ecofeminism: The fight for our planet is fundamentally feminist

Poppy Lindsey

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Ecofeminism: a political ideology which seeks to determine and understand the link between the feminist movement and the fight against the climate crisis.

The theory works on the basis that feminism and sustainability should not be individual fights, but instead one stronger movement, which fights for the same collective goals.

Fundamental principles of ecofeminism

The concept of ecofeminism has been around for as long as the sustainability movement itself – longer than most people realise.

In the late 20^th century, women began making efforts to protect the natural world. The importance of biodiverse wildlife, saving water, and preserving natural food sources emerged in social awareness.

The origins of the crossover between feminism and sustainability lie predominantly in East Asia and Africa.

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Early demonstrations include the 1970s Chipko movement by women in India, where women protested to protect forests from deforestation. As men were moving to cities for work, the women had to rely on forests in rural India for subsistence – eventually pushing them to employ non-violent protest tactics to prevent loggers from cutting the forests down.

In America, the movement was building momentum by the early 1980s. Ecofeminist Ynestra King organised a peaceful protest at the Pentagon in the state of Virginia; one of the first times a demonstration had explicitly called for both equal rights for women and to end government exploitation of natural resources. This became known as the Women’s Pentagon Action.

Is ecofeminism a type of intersectional feminism?

Ecofeminism is often included under the umbrella of intersectional feminism.

Intersectional feminism is a term first coined by Black feminist scholar Kimberle Crenshaw in the late 1980s. The framework holds that intertwining systems of power affect the most marginalised members of society.

“While the climate crisis affects everyone, it does not affect everyone equally.”

An individual’s various social and political identities combine to create a deeper and more significant mode of discrimination or privilege. For example, a Black woman who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and who comes from a lower socioeconomic background will face different discrimination from a white woman who is disabled. As such, it is important for feminists to consider the disadvantages different women face and incorporate them into their fight for equality.

Intersectional feminism teaches me that we live in intersecting systems of power relations. Therefore, there is no such thing called neutrality – everyone has political standing to navigate power relations and that standing impacts everything we do.

— putri widi saraswati (@siputriwidi) October 10, 2023

Ecofeminism is a good example of an intersectional movement as it both brings together two causes and focuses on the women most disadvantaged by climate change.

While the climate crisis affects everyone, it does not affect everyone equally. Women in developing countries, particularly native communities, are disproportionately affected by droughts, floods, and natural disasters. These women are more likely to have to engage in sex work, early marriage, or other dangerous practices to survive; things that a woman living in a developed, Western country is less likely to be affected by.

“Our planetary crisis has never been gender neutral”

Ecofeminism, as an ideology, works on the same principles as intersectionality – we must take into account all situations, identities, and disadvantages different women face in order to achieve an equal, sustainable world.

As Dr Katharine Wilkinson and Dr Ayana Elizabeth Johnson state in their article: “Climate feminism is exactly what we need, because our planetary crisis has never been gender neutral.”

Women’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change

As a consequence, ecofeminism underscores the need for the feminist and sustainability movements to unite to achieve their shared goals.

A major consequence of climate change is forced migration; it is estimated that there could be 1.2 billion climate refugees by 2050.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that due to flooding in Pakistan, drought in Madagascar, and other catastrophes, millions were displaced in 2022 alone. And while forced migration is a distressing experience for anyone, it is crucial to acknowledge the specific vulnerabilities faced by female refugees, particularly when it comes to violence.

While it is unknown exactly how many migrants have experienced gender-based violence, it is thought to exceed 50 per cent. The existing problem of gender-based exploitation and violence is exacerbated by forced migration, a situation that is becoming increasingly worsened by the climate crisis.

The eco-gender gap

Although ecofeminism is an ever-growing movement, the people who hold the power to enforce change have yet to prioritise building a sustainable future — a future where no gender is disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.

As Martin Gelin wrote in The New Republic: “The highest-profile climate campaigners in the world today are two young women: Greta Thunberg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Those shouting them down are primarily older conservative men.”

Gelin’s words sum up what is known as the eco-gender gap. The idea that wanting to save the planet is an inherently female trait puts the responsibility on women to solve the climate crisis and discourages men from involving themselves in climate activism. This speaks to the wider issue of men viewing feminism as a women-only cause and not one that seeks equality for all.

While women are disproportionately affected by climate change, the climate crisis is indeed a threat to everyone.

It's international women's day. It is time to talk about the eco-gender gap. Think about the eco-friendly products you have seen, who they are targeted towards. Why is caring about others and the planet seen as feminine? #IWD2021 #ClimateCrisis https://t.co/5SBGwj04t4

— Nonprofit Eco-Overhaul (@EcoOverhaul) March 8, 2021

The future of ecofeminism

For any change to occur, the eco-gender gap must first be recognised by individuals in positions of power. The communities globally that rely on the natural world must be respected and worked with to ensure their livelihoods are protected. Only then can the eco-gender gap be closed.

Those who contribute to the depletion of our environment – CEOs of gas and oil companies and Presidents of countries with higher emissions than all developed nations combined, for example – must be held accountable by politicians and world leaders.

As Vandana Shiva lucidly puts it: “We are either going to have a future where women lead the way to make peace with the Earth or we are not going to have a human future at all.”

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Featured image courtesy of Ajuntament Barcelona via Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.