Ecofeminism and Environmental Ethics
Soc 120
July 29, 2008
Ecofeminism or ecological feminism, represents the union of the radical ecology movement, also known as “deep ecology”, and feminism. (Reruther) Ecofeminists believe that the male species has a need to dominate and oppress the female species. This leads to humans needing to dominate, abuse, and the destruction of the environment. It is a common misconception that ecofeminists are feminists who are environmentally concerned. However, ecofeminism is not a different type of feminism, it is simply a theory of looking at environmental ethics, and a wider perspective of understanding ethical, and environmental issues.
Ecofeminism has been in practice for many years. In fact, as far back as 250,000 years ago in Mesopotamia archeologists have evidence even this early civilization lived egalitarian lifestyle. Egalitarian meaning, they believed that humans and nature were equal, and connected, and that all living beings were one. Although the practice of ecofeminism is as old a humans themselves, ecofeminism as a theory is still in infancy.
The theory of ecofeminisim has only been around since the early 1970’s. The term “ecofeminism” came about in 1974 by a French feminist named Francoise D’Eaubonne. It was obvious to D’Eaubonne and other feminists that the need for the male species to dominate not only the female species, but nature it’s self was a issue that needed to be dealt with.
The birth of environmental ethics also came about in the 1970’s. When the first Earth Day took place, and environmentalists began stressing to philosophers to consider the philosophical aspects of environmental problems. There has always been a connection between women and nature, for example the term mother nature. Women are responsible for giving birth and raising young, where as mother nature, or the earth, gives life to all of it’s inhabitants. So the connection between the need for dominance over women, would...