Some of us here (upstate New York) have been talking about what an
ecofeminist vision for the future would be. One recurring theme: how can
we ever change the mindset of a culture when the people in that culture
spend hours every day being indoctrinated by the tool of major
corporations, the television set. The messages corporations send over
this are pretty obvious: Be good consumers! Buy things! Women are
objects! Nature is a resource to be used! You can find happiness by buying
things, buying things, buying things!
As a parent, I fight this battle in my own home. On the last day of
school for the summer, we make a ceremony of putting a pillowcase over the
television set and the pillowcase stays there until Labor Day. I want my
kids to learn from their friends, relatives,and parents, and from their
experiences with weather, trees, mosquitos, etc.
I have been thinking that an important grassroots ecofeminist activity
could be a campaign to remove televisions from our culture. I think that
any positive contribution television makes to our culture is far
outweighed by the disadvantages.
Any thoughts on this?
Janine
