Dear list:
I think it's unfortunate that some people don't want to discuss
class issues on the ecofem list. Feminism would be a mute
theory if it was only concerned with gender oppression.
Luckily, many feminists realized this a long time ago. Therefore,
feminist theory looks critically at systems of oppression.
Ecofeminism extends that lens to include non-human nature (this
extension has not been well received in the feminist establishment--
another topic).
I had an opportunity to visit Judy Bari this past summer. Some of you
may know who she is because she's been an Earth First! activist
for many years. She was a victim of a car bomb a few years ago
and is now disabled. She was a very interesting person to meet.
She is definitely a working-class type person and is not very
interested in discussing theory. She has no time as she is out
on the front lines, in N. California, to save the redwoods. She's
not on e-mail, in fact, she has no electricity in her home. Having
access to the internet is a priveledge that I hope you're all aware
of.
Judy has done a lot of work to promote relationships with the
loggers. Most of the loggers are guys who need jobs and this
is the only way that they can support themselves and their
families. They are also being screwed by the timber companies.
And, as they clearcut the forests, they see that their jobs are
not sustainable. It's a very difficult position for all of them.
This is obviously a class issue, an environmental issue, and an
economic issue. Is it a feminist issue? I believe it is.
Time does not permit an elaborate discussion right now. Many women
who have and do work with environmental groups have felt marginalized
in the ranks. Earth First! has often been criticized for its macho,
ecowarrior mentality which has little regard for the oppression of anything
besides non-human nature. Each group is different, however, and Judy's
group seems to be unique in its operation. Her book it pretty compelling--
_Timber Wars_--and she addresses some of these issues. She has a chapter
called "The Feminisation of Earth First!".
Just another note, there are many types of feminist theory--liberal
feminism, cultural, socialist, to name a few. It is my understanding
that liberal feminism is the only one that is not concerned with
systems of oppression. Liberal feminists just want a place in the
patriarchy.
There is a lot more to say on all of these topics.
Shawn Boeser
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Apr 26 09:00:21 MDT 1995
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 1995 11:03:24 -0400 (EDT)
Date-warning: Date header was inserted by acs.wooster.edu
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Susan Clayton)
Subject: class
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I want to support those who are saying that class is an appropriate topic
for an ecofem list to discuss. Some of the reasons have been brought up
already: women are disproportionately in the lower economic classes;
ecofeminism, I believe, has to question hierarchy and class-based hierarchy
is one of the strongest there is. At a deeper level, class is based on the
assumption that economic worth is the best way of assigning value. Both
women and the environment have been disadvantaged by such an assumption --
women because their work was not paid, they couldn't hold property under
some conditions and at some times, they now don't head up the Fortune 500
companies. The environment because cost/benefit analyses for businesses
and technology did not count as "costs" use of or damage to the
environmental resources they were getting for "free". And so on. I don't
mean to be exhaustive, just to offer my support for continuing the
conversation.
Susan
