When thinking about all of the implications the patriarchy has on our society, one thing that often doesn’t come to mind is the link between women’s rights and the environment. Known as ecofeminism, this branch of feminism explores the connection between the oppression of women and the destruction of nature. This intersection occurs as the result of a male dominated society, white supremacy, and capitalism. As feminist activist and co-founder of The Free Art Collective Lissa Brown puts it, “ecofeminism is an integral facet of the women’s movement because it addresses the severing of women and Mother Nature and the exploitation of both.”
There are many similarities in how women and nature are stereotypically thought of in society. Both are often characterized as chaotic, unpredictable and irrational. In contrast, men are thought of as calm, grounded and rational. Even simply referring to nature as a “feminine” concept is suggesting that it should inherently be exploited. These differences in portrayal highlight how sexist and hierarchical thinking are constantly used to subjugate both women and the planet.
Toxic masculinity also impacts the way sustainable efforts are perceived. It’s been shown that men are less likely than women to participate in green activities (such as recycling) because they don’t want to be perceived as feminine. As a result, toxic masculinity has hindered the progress of the climate movement. Being eco-friendly should not be tied to gender. We are only going to be able to move in the right direction if we remove the stigmas tied to being environmentally cautious.
The reality is that women are more likely than men to be impacted by the climate crisis. UN figures show that women are 14 times more likely to die from natural disasters than men. Other crucial factors such as race and socio-economic status also must be taken into consideration in order to keep the concept of ecofeminism intersectional. These identities also increase chances of death and displacement due to climate change.
Despite all of this, women have been the ones to take on the bulk of leading the environmental movement. However, while women are doing the grunt work, they are still a minority when it comes to leadership roles. The representation for women in national and global climate negotiating bodies is under 30%. Women are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet, in most cases, are not even offered the opportunities to create policies to solve these issues. Women’s voices need to be in positions of power in order to enact concrete change in the climate movement.
These issues ultimately impact us all, and we need to fight for them as though they do. This requires the work of more than just women. These cannot be one-sided fights. Everyone needs to step up. As a start, we can work to remove gender from our vocabulary when discussing nature and green actions. If we teach future generations that everyone is responsible for their actions in relation to the environment and women, then we can begin to dismantle the ties between the patriarchy and the exploitation of our earth.
Written By: Becca Morency
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