i am totally new to the network and a bit apprehensive about voicing my
opinion among such a strong group of contributers. paige wrote a reply to
an individual who wondered if the ecofeminist movement had any place for
diversity. her response was harsh, abrassive and wrong. Women may have
been ignored in history and as important modern day actors who are only
heard on the margin, but that does not mean that the ecofem's movement
should do likewise to other women. It is not just about middle class, white
americans.
if the ecofems movement wants to actually progress in society, not just as
a selective group, it must identify, incorporate, and celebrate women from
a variety of backgrounds. Discounting an individualbecause she or he does not fit
into your ecofem mold does not allow for education. It allows you to
remain in your world as an isolated, and marginalized vioce. Don't
discount hetrosexuals because of their mere orientation. Lesbians of all
people should know that many people cannot help their life given
circumstances. The ecofems movement and this network should allow all
women's voices and experiences to be heard.
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fri Oct 21 15:28:27 MDT 1994
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fri Oct 21 15:28:26 1994
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Date: Fri, 21 Oct 1994 14:30:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: Elizabeth Ribet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re:ecofeminist critique
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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I'm responding to this message and to the one with subject: women on the
margin. I'm also pretty new to this list, and haven't contributed before,
but wanted to speak up on this issue.
Paige,
I agree with your comments wholeheartedly. I would add that "Diversity" has
become a convenient buzzword for those wanting to gloss over dynamics of
power and oppression. I want to clarify my position on the concept of
marginalization- I believe that there is a significant difference between
holding a "minority" or "marginalized" viewpoint because you believe that
other people in a specific, comparatively small discussion space (like
the ecofeminist list) disagree with you or don't like your ideas, and
being marginalized because you are in an oppressed or
"havenot" position in relation to institutionalized sexism, classism,
racism, ableism, ageism, adultism, ethnocentrism, anti-Semitism, sizism,
imperialism.
For instance, I once had the misfortune of walking into a room where Rush
Limbaugh was on the television, and heard him explaining, that as a
conservative, Republican he was a real minority- unlike liberals,
African-Americans, feminists, etc. It's true that people with access to
Limbaugh's kind of power in the media are in the minority of people in the
U.S. He is hardly a marginalized voice. This sort of simplistic, reactionary
definition where minority=marginalized regardless of the structural or
political context is not surprising coming from the radical right wing.
What's disappointing is that it is also apparently not a "minority"
opinion on an ecofeminist list.
In very general terms, those of us who are used to surviving and acting in
structurally marginalized positions are very well aware that if we speak up,
people may not like us, that if we don't speak up our silence will usually be
interpreted as consent or acquiescence, that if we do speak up we'll be
blamed for provoking our oppressors by being too "loud" or "radical",
that if we don't speak up we'll be blamed for our "passivity". We don't
expect that when we do speak out we'll be universally applauded or
appreciated- not because this wouldn't be nice- but because it's not
possible when one is challenging or unmasking entrenched institutions
like sexism, environmental destruction, etc.
I would suggest that those who feel threatened/marginalized by the
presence of "others" in what should be such a nice, cozy space might
benefit from putting less energy into complaining and condemning the
perceived cause of their discomfort, and more effort into analyzing and
confronting the connections between violence against women,
non-human animals, nature, queers, people of color, poor people, disAbled
people, Jews, young people, old people, and third world peoples- with a
specific recognition that this violence is supported by power imbalances
that do not marginalize the categories: men, white people, middle/upper class
people, heterosexual people, gentile, adult, first world people,
able-bodied people, human animals. And no, I am not saying that none of the
members of those categories are ever oppressed/marginalized on some other
basis. And no, I am not saying that there are never "wrong" reactions to
an oppressive action. But, Paige, your response is not, in my opinion, an
example of an inappropriate reaction. Far from it.
Hurray for the Lavender Menace!
Elizabeth
