‘Women and nature share a powerful moral connection’

Women and nature are linked in ‘morally significant ways’. It means the oppressed are in solidarity with each other. It’s often a cultural myth that women are somehow closer to nature than men. However, being relegated to the realm of nature and caretaking work does give them an understanding of the ways in which we are all connected to nature. Women understand our material dependence on nature — and the power of nature. The work women are made to do creates sensitivities and empathy. As a result, there is a moral knowledge present for women, not because of being in a female body, but because of what female bodies are made to do.

The environmental problems we face now were manufactured pretty much in the last 200 years of colonialism and extractive capitalism. But even if we look at just these last 200 years, women’s energies have gone towards improving schooling, creating movements for equality, creating the entire fields of public health, social work and so on.

So, while this industrial machine has been literally gaining steam over the last 200 years, women have put their energy into institutions that build social health, well-being and connections between people. That says to me that if women had wielded more power, they would have created different sorts of institutions and different sorts of wealth.

Ecofeminism is a philosophy of ‘flourishing’. Critics say it goes against norms of doing commerce and living well. Ecofeminism definitely goes against the growth model of colonialism and capitalism! Another environmental philosopher once asked me, is ‘flourishing’ asking too much? Is it too big? Too grand? I think that really speaks to how minimal some of our moral goals are! Why shouldn’t everyone flourish? Why is that too much to ask?

This argument, that ecofeminism’s flourishing is against norms of living well, has its own response. Some people’s wealth is generated at the expense of others’ well-being. If we have a more democratic sensibility — that everything living deserves to flourish in its own way — then there is lots of room for doing commerce and living well. Just not in exploitative, extractive ways.

Economics has gotten away for centuries now by considering harm to people and moral concerns as ‘externalities’! But now, the ‘externalities’ are saying, no, we are not externalities.

We need feminist economics today. And done by people of all genders.

There are important ecofeminist movements making an impact now. The work is happening in the global climate justice movement. This includes all the work, at the grassroots, in affected communities, in science, right to the negotiating table. There are so many significant players here who will not let ecofeminist energy disappear from the room. This is extremely important because when women are not named, it is very easy for them to fade into the background.

Ecofeminism itself begins with ‘an awareness of the beauty of the natural world’. Moral knowledge, ethical sensibility and a sense of connection can often precede a rational understanding.  ‘Feminism and Ecological Communities’, an idea is developed of ‘dynamic charm’ — that the living world has a quality which we can appreciate. The beauty of the natural world is everything, from a majestic vista to just paying attention to a tree or an animal. Or our own bodies.

That sense of connection to nature must ground any ethic, because an ethic is not about one decision or one policy. An ethic is about the very forms of life that we cultivate and nurture. Without that connection, where is the energy, the caring, the inspiration? We simply have to foster that appreciation.

Matter referenced:

Chris Cuomo, Environment and ethics scholar, Professor of Philosophy and Women’s Studies at the University of Georgia, Times of India, Ahmedabad, Saturday, 8th February, 2020.

By: Dr. Bhawana Asnani.

Happy to see Reviews, Additions, Suggestions and Comments, further.