The Theory of Ecofeminism - Essay Example

Environmental Ethics (Philosophy) Feminism and activism ideologies towards the socio-economic development have been the major facets to the theory of‘ecofeminism’. The theory of ecofeminism was developed during the 1970s that focused on the linkage existing between environmental oppressions and dominations of women population. According to the ecofeminists’ point of view, the two movements concerning the hindrance to environment and domination of women are interconnected and thus are considered as one of the major problems in the modernized society. Similar to any other theories towards philosophical understanding of social stature, the theory of ecofeminism have also transformed to a large extent. In the current days, various aspects have been included in the conceptual configuration of the theory such as the aspects of social inequalities, racism, sexism, and oppression of nature taking into account the animal life as well (Sturgeon, N. “Ecofeminist Natures: Race, Gender, Feminist Theory, And Political Action”). With this perspective, ecofeminism intends to provide with due consideration to the issues regarding minority interests, animal and women welfare along with the hazardous impacts created on environment. The philosophy of ecofeminism can be well observed from the statement of Gaard (1993), “Ecofeminism calls for an end to all oppressions….” (pp. 1). As depicted by the author, ecofeminists intend to categorize the privileged groups as the people who belong to the middle and the higher income group and thus, do not require facing deprivation and coercion in their regular lives. On the other hand, oppressed groups are those, who are often deprived and subjugated from leading a healthy and prosperous life unveiling the inequality in wealth distribution as well as social stature of the modern society (Gaard, G. “Ecofeminism: Women, Animals, Nature”). The study of O’Loughlin (1993) depicted that these oppressed groups often include the groups of minority classes in the society, animals, environment, women and other low-income households. It is in this context that taking the reference of United Farm Workers (UFW), the author explained how farmers, environment and even the animals are often oppressed in the so called advanced human society. She argues that “Much of the US food comes from the Third World people and land” (pp. 153). Other than O’Loughlin (1993), there are many other ecofeminists, such as Warren (1997), who propound that along with women, other low level income groups widely referred to as the oppressed groups of the society who are subjugated by the regular social operations that can be evidently viewed with reference to the agricultural industry functions (Gaard, G. “Ecofeminism: Women, Animals, Nature”; Warren, K. “Ecofeminism: Women, Culture, Nature”). In order to state that whether the treatment of farm workers and their conditions should be termed as the concern of ecofeminists, it is quite essential to gain an in-depth understanding regarding the actual belief of this amassed movement. As observed by Gaard (1993) and also by Birkeland (1993), it shall be unfair to state that ecofeminism concentrates on the relationship between the biological repute of women or females and the environmental settings. Rather, ecofeminism takes into account the subjugation of any oppressed group which can be related to the animals and even the low income groups including children and men. From an overall point of view, the ecofeminism movement takes into concern any fact related to deprivation of the benefits or human rights possessed by a particular group of population, along with the hazardous activities negatively effecting the environment and exploitation of wildlife or animals (Gaard, G. “Ecofeminism: Women, Animals, Nature”). Relating the fact with the configuration of the agricultural world, ecofeminists such as O’Loughlin (1993), often denoted that farmers majorly belong to the minority and the low income groups and thus is slotted in the dimensions of ecofeminism. Furthermore, the farm worker also includes women, animals and environment to a large extent which is indeed a few manifests of the ecofeminism philosophy. The study conducted by Waren (1997) provides with evidence regarding the fact that farm workers include women population to a significant extent. As he states that almost one-third to half of the total farm workers’ population comprises of women farmers, especially in the Third World Countries. These women farmers are again engaged in producing and serving more than the half amount of total world production of agricultural products. However, the repeated ignorance of socialists towards the participation of women in the agricultural world has led to the failure of recognizing the importance of farm workers as an ecofeminism concern to an extent. Based on this thought, farm workers’ conditions and their treatment can be considered as ecofeminists’ concern (Warren, K. “Ecofeminism: Women, Culture, Nature”). In addition, it is worth mentioning that the agricultural world does not include itself as an ecofeminists’ concern only due to the reason of women to be a major part of the sector. As a matter of fact, the agricultural sector is coherently and inseparably comprises of environmental aspects as its most vital portico. Concentrating on this aspect as well, farm workers can be termed as ecofeminists concern. As the study of Eaton and Lorentzen (2003) reveal that from ages, the feminism point of view was ignored in cultivation of heavy-cropping reaps that required large amounts of pesticides, fertilizers and water. Consequently this led to the cultivation of such crops in unsuitable land forms and weather conditions that in turn infringed the ecological balance and natural habitat of many regions. Furthermore, the seed banks were impulsively controlled by commercial bodies that were supported only by the affordability of large farmers and thus diminished prosperity of the poorer farmers which also included the women population. Environmental issues were also another major concern for ecofeminists to focus on this sector along with the above described impoverishment of the low income group farmers (Eaton, H. & Lorentzen, L. A. “Ecofeminism and Globalization: Exploring Culture, Context, and Religion”). The conditions that are witnessed by the farm workers in the agricultural world also tend to deprive the biological components of earth including the animal kingdom to a large extent. For instance, farming or cultivation has often been observed to lead en route for deforestation. Usage of pesticides and fertilizers at frequent intervals to reap high-cropping yields also had a consequent of degraded mineral deposits in the land for natural farming. These consequences of ignoring feminism in farming and providing the farmers with inadequate conditions caused a significant impact on the ecological balance harming the natural setting of the environment. Moreover, the pesticides used by the farmers are tested on animals before they are applied to the farms which not only indicate the deprivation of animals, but also make the toxic effects of farming more apparent (Sturgeon, N. “Ecofeminist Natures: Race, Gender, Feminist Theory, And Political Action”). Taken as a whole, from the above described reasons, it becomes quite apparent that there are quite a few significant reasons to indicate the conditions of farm workers and their treatment to be considered as the concern for ecofeminists. Furthermore, this aspect also tends to include two significant facets of ecofeminism. These are the liberal ecofeminism and the Marxist ecofeminism concepts. While liberal ecofeminism concentrates on the deprivation of women as a result of larger focus on male population, the concept of Marxist ecofeminism deliberates on the construction of human nature alteration of nature with the assistance of technologies. In the later concept, the commercialism of resources has been critiqued by ecofeminists to a large extent (Merchant, C. “Radical Ecology: The Search For A Livable World” pp. 183-210). The description of Eaton & Lorentzen (2003) indicated a similar picture as often predicted in the ideology of liberal ecofeminism where the authors indicated the deprivation of women farm workers resulting from the larger focus paid on the men population and thus revealing another example of male domination of women. Similarly, the study of O’Loughlin (1993) and Waren (1997) depicted the transformation of environment through the increasing usage of harmful pesticides and other toxics along with the unambiguous description of capitalism in terms of resource control by Eaton & Lorentzen (2003) signified the Marxist view on ecofeminism. Considering all theses aspects, it can be rationally stated that farm workers conditions and their treatment in the social and economic constitution is certainly one of the major concerns of ecofeminists. Works Cited Eaton, Heather. & Lorentzen, Lois Ann. Ecofeminism and Globalization: Exploring Culture, Context, and Religion Rowman & Littlefield, 2003. Gaard, Greta Claire. Ecofeminism: Women, Animals, Nature Temple University Press, 1993. Merchant, Carolyn. Radical Ecology: The Search for a Livable World Routledge, 1992. Sturgeon, Noël. Ecofeminist Natures: Race, Gender, Feminist Theory, and Political Action Routledge, 1997. Warren, Karen. Ecofeminism: Women, Culture, Nature Indiana University Press, 1997. Read More