Feminist Theory Of Ecofeminism

There are two main constructs of defining ecofeminism. According to Tong (1998), ‘culture ecofeminists’ focus on the separation of women being connected to nature. They seek to illustrate that this so-called connection of women and nature reinforces the exploitation of women within a society dominated by patriarchy as women are objectified like that of matter within nature, and so, is degrading to women as they are seen as lesser beings to that of men. The theory of this ecofeminist categorization places emphasis on the construct of hegemonic masculinity, the idea of men being dominant to that of women, as facilitating the oppression of women and the degradation of nature. As a result of this hierarchical system, some men will continue to

They seek to illustrate that gender inequality and nature should be considered as one in the same since they both share the component of residing under male dominance. More so, there is an inclination to suggest that the connection between women and nature is one that can be described in terms of a psychological and biological basis (Tong 1998), in that women are deemed to have a closer association with nature than that of men, as women possess a greater relative position in the home for being

A pivotal moment within the Chipko movement occurred when the deforestation affected a marital relationship, in that the wife directly confronted the husband’s work contract of destroying the trees. When the men came to tear down the trees, one of the foresters seemed to be perplexed as to why the women were trying to protect the trees from being cut down. The women responded to them by stating that “[They] have come to teach [them] forestry.” The forester proclaimed, “You foolish women, how can you prevent tree felling by those who know the value of the forest? Do you know what forests bear? They produce profit and resin and timber” (Shiva 2012). The women sang back to the foresters in complete