richard--
i think you bring up an interesting topic to help us stray from the
ever-continuing vegetarian discussion.  the question of individualism in
regards to ecofeminism.  

betty replied that individualism is very important--that you must think and
act on your own, and not define yourself by a group.  in fact, saying I am an
ecofeminist/feminist/environmentalist defines me by a group.  of course,
there are limitations to these definitions but we use them all the time, and,
at least for me, they do not detract from me being kelley.  

i have had friends tell me that they are getting a tattoo because they want
to express their individuality, when in fact there are lines of people
outside the tattoo parlor waiting to do the same thing.   my point is that we
use the term without really concerning ourselves with the meanings.  on with
defining individualism as a concept...

we seem to throw around the term often and assume that if we say a concept is
not individualistic than it must support conformity.    this, i think, is
such an american way of thinking--the idea of being the rugged individual.  I
must become an person in isolation that proves "his" worth through strength,
control, and perservance, but "he" must do it alone.  and if "he" fails,
well, "his" character was just not strong enough.  "he" did not have enough
individual strength to succeed.  And those who succeed are the true
individuals as they have proved that they can think, act alone and still make
it to the top.  and those who fail, well they just don't have what it takes.

using this rather raw, but i think, accurate definition of individualism, the
concept of individualism is contrary to ecofeminist philosophy, because of
the interrelatedness of nature.  ecofeminsim stresses the uniqueness of
species, while tries to make connections between them.  it does not erase
distinctions, but draws them out to value, and to integrate those
distinctions into a cooperatively intermingled web.

i have been part of this list for awhile and rarely respond, but i have read
adams, warren, shiva, merchant, griffin and others.  i don't know if any
other them talk directly about individualism.  this is my sense of the
philosophy as i have internalized it in my own life, and i would like to know
what others think. maybe this is a disclaimer, or maybe added to give me a
feeling that i have some "authority" to speak about this, regardless of why i
just typed this last paragraph in, i think before we continue on using the
term individualism we should do some deconstructing of it.


kelley
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fri Jul  5 20:15:07 1996
 ; 6 Jul 96 14:16:02 +1200
Date: Sat, 06 Jul 1996 14:15:25 +1200
From: "STEFANIE S. RIXECKER" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Call for Papers--J of Poverty
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Organization: Lincoln University

[EMAIL PROTECTED]

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------


>
> Journal of Poverty:
> Innovations on Social, Political & Economic Inequalities
>
>
> CALL FOR PAPERS
>
> Founding Editors:
> Keith M. Kilty, Ph.D., Virginia E. Richardson, Ph.D., and Elizabeth A.
> Segal, Ph.D.
>
> The editors announce the development of a new journal, the Journal of
> Poverty:  Innovations on Social, Political & Economic Inequalities, which
> will be published by The Haworth Press, Inc., beginning in 1997.
>
> The Journal of Poverty:  Innovations on Social, Political & Economic
> Inequalities is a refereed journal designed to provide an outlet for
> discourse on poverty and inequality.  Poverty means more than "the
> condition or quality of being poor; need; indigence; lack of means of
> subsistence."  It also refers to "deficiency in necessary properties or
> desirable qualities, or in a specific quality; inferiority; inadequacy."
> The editorial board welcomes manuscripts which sensitize social scientists
> and practitioners to the varied forms and patterns of inequalities, new
> developments in cultural diversity, and interventions promoting equality
> and social justice.  Articles guided by conceptual analyses involving
> quantitative and qualitative methods are encouraged.  The intent is to
> produce and disseminate information on poverty and social, political, and
> economic inequalities and to offer a means by which nontraditional
> strategies for change might be considered.  The journal is concerned with
> various levels of intervention ranging from direct practice to community
> organization to social policy analysis.  Manuscripts should increase
> knowledge of oppressive forces, such as racism, sexism, classism, and
> homophobia, which contribute to the maintenance of poverty and inequality
> and suggest methods of change leading towards their eradication.
>
> Submissions should reflect the mission of the Journal.  Authors should
> submit four copies of the manuscript.  Manuscripts should be double spaced.
> Please include an abstract of no more than 100 words.  References and
> format should follow APA style.  Manuscripts will be peer reviewed by at
> least two consulting editors and returned with comments.
>
> Manuscripts should be sent to:
> The Editors
> Journal of Poverty:  Innovations on Social, Political & Economic Inequalities
> P. O. Box 3613
> Columbus, OH  43210-3613
> telephone:  614-292-7181
> fax:  614-292-6940
>
> *****************************************************************************
*
>       Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute
>            rejection of authority.
>
>                         - Thomas Huxley
>
>
>
> Keith Kilty
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ****************************************************************************
> **
>
>
>

*********************************************
Linda Lopez McAlister, Editor, HYPATIA; Listowner SWIP-L; Chair
Dept. of Women's Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa.
Tel. 813-974-0982/FAX [EMAIL PROTECTED]



************************************
Stefanie S. Rixecker
Department of Resource Management
Lincoln University, Canterbury
Aotearoa New Zealand
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
************************************

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