I am intrigued by the seminar you plan to present: education is a
valuable tool for advancing understanding of concepts (such as feminism,
ecofeminism and ecology) that too often get over looked. I will attempt
to give you my version of answers to your questions in just a few
sentences. There is, of course, much more to know, but i think i can give
you a basic type answer or place to start.
1. Feminism is combined with the environmental movement for a few
reasons. (1) there is generally a connection in people's minds between
women and the earth (Gaia or mother earth...). (2) typically 'feminine'
types of viewpoints such as emotionality and caring lend a new and wider
perspective to environmental problems by widening the scope of
considerable ideas. (3) the most important connection lies in the logic
of domination (set forth by Karen J. Warren). This basically states that
there is a conceptual connection between the domination of women and the
domination of nature. This conceptual connection extends to all typically
disadvantaged groups such as the poor and people of color. The
connection lies in the fact that women are dominated by men because of
(a) a false dichotomy between men and women, rational and
emotional--dualisms, and (b)because of this difference, men have ranked
themselves 'above' women and believe that this, therefore justifies their
domination of women. (some even say the domination of women is in women's
best interest because men are more capable of rational decision
making...) This applies directly to nature because the dualistic split
between nature and culture has been interpreted by patriarchal society to
mean that culture is better than or more valuable than nature. This, like
the idea that men are better than women, leads to a supposed
permissability of the domination of nature by humans because, of course,
humans are better than and above nature and therefore unquestionably
justified in dominating it for their own purposes, regardless.
2. Feminist viewpoints enlarge our understanding of the environmental
movement by taking even philosophical discussion and rule making
procedures somewhat outside of the masculine sphere of pure rationality.
A women's perspective (stereotypically) adds the dimensions of caring,
trust, deep feeling and understanding of a situation on a level other than
rationality. Women can add to our world and to discussion of
environmental problems and solutions a perspective that has been shot
down and subdued for literally centuries.
3. I define ecofeminism as the philosophy and actions that promote
an understanding and dismantling of the logic of domination.
I hope that these comments can give you a place to start. Think about
your own experiences and how your views of the environment and env.
probs. as a feminist fit together *for
you*. Ecofeminism is not a hard and fast theory of absolutes. It makes
places for differences of non dominating opinions, and allows for
individual and societal differences. I would STRONGLY reccommend that you
read Karen J. Warren's piece in the journal Environmental Ethics titled
"The Power and the Promise of Ecological Feminism". It is an excellent
piece and summarizes the basics of the philosophical aspect of ecological
feminism.
Good Luck! Let me know if this is a help or if you'd like more info!
I could offer more sources if you'd like!
Sincerely,
Colette Palamar
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
graduate student in philosophy and environmental science
University of Idaho
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sun Oct 8 13:24:44 1995
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 1995 15:24:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: mary thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: breat cancer
To: ecofem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hello--
I'm a grad student in American Culture Studies, and I'm getting ready to
start my dissertation on the issue of silicone breast implants using
Donna Haraway's notion of the cyborg. Because I'm interested in women's
bodies and the promise/threat of technology to our bodies, I'd like to
explore the issue of environmental causes of breast cancer (nuclear
testing for example). Are there specific sources where this concern
intersects with ecofeminism? Could someone suggest some good places to
start?
Mary
