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ECOFEMINISM – A MODERN SYNTHESIS

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Abstract –
That the quality of nature has a multidimensional effect in maintaining women‟s health and
existence this realization has started to spread out slowly through world wide female participations
sincerely , which has created a definite feedback among the male dominations upon our nature . This
article “Ecofeminism – A Modern Synthesis” is a short review of the above mentioned fact with special
reference to the role of women from the third world countries. Ecofeminism is nothing but a geographical
perception of women for maintaining themselves and their surrounding ecosystems against the
exploitations.
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Since the dawn of civilization to this „dot-com‟ phase of the human advancement, different
modes of economy have been transferred from one society to another through acculturation*. Due to
economic variations concept of „First –World ‟, „Second – World‟ and „Third – World‟ originated
subsequently with time.

European colonization* disrupted the traditional socio-economic matrix by infusing into it a

complex of European animals, plants and pathogens into their traditional way of life-style. A „Capitalist
Ecological Revolution‟ in the first world plundered third world resources and pushed the poor people into
marginal arena. Benefits are multi-faceted; for example Green Revolution, Plantation Economy, Capitalist
Ranching, Alternative Reproductive Technology, Operation Flood, etc. However, the long term scenario
produced a pathetic output, especially on women‟s world, emerging the concept of „Eco-feminism‟*.

Involvement of women –
With the explosion of human population a large number of female labors have been involved
with the National Production Systems. Circumstances, like poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, lack of
consciousness about social and economic rights, wages, and so on also play a major role for their
involvement. Their role is area-specific as well as type-specific, as the situation demands.

But often, these are unorganized, mismanaged and unhealthy. The ecologically unsustainable
projects have threatened the survival of women in the third world. Not only cancer, loss of eye-sights,
bronchial problems and other diseases, they are facing many difficulties during pregnancy, lactation, etc.
Women agricultural workers in Nicaragua have twenty times greater the level of DDT * in their breast
milk compared to their non-agricultural counter parts. They wish to have equal pay and an end to the toxic
poisoning from insecticides.

Women of the third world are quite aware of the above syndrome and are gradually raising
their voices. In Latin America, women raised their voices against the ban of maternal leave. They suffer
immensely to maintain their own life-support systems through forest and water conservation, to rebuild
soil fertility and to preserve ecological diversity.

It is amazing that this flow of consciousness was evident in India even during the Aryan
Period. Presently two paradigms of forestry prevail: Life-enhancing and Life-destroying. Even, the
women in Garhwal participated „en massa‟ in the tree-hugging movement (1970) to maintain
sustainability.

“Ecofeminism” by Miss Mayuri Bhattacharyya (Continued ……to Page:2)

 In Africa agricultural development created large areas of desertified land that exerted a
negative impact on women‟s economy. Kenyan women started „Woman‟s Greenbelt Movement‟ based on
their primary needs. However, the awareness of women about their environment would only succeed with
literacy campaign. “Literacy‟ – if not engendered will be endangered”, because only education can open
our eyes to fulfill our rights and duties, on a mass scale.

Isabelle Litelier of the „Third World Women‟s Project‟ says, the global society is out of
control. The planet Earth must be saved. Women must take charge since men are not going to solve the
problems. Men have, certainly separated themselves from the ecosystem. These produced the loud eco-
feminist cry: Women should reverse the damage done to earth! In this context, India is not far behind;
Sister Nivedita and Medha Patekar are the star performers.

Despite government oppositions, women would slowly achieve the goals of ecofeminism that is
liberation of women and nature. They would construct a society for both women and men with equal
rights. As women only are the carriers of the future generation, they do have the required capacity to give
life and light to our environment: we must struggle for life with our feet on the ground and our eyes
towards the heaven, we must do the impossible.
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Kea-words –

* DDT = Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane; a colorless contact insecticide, toxic to

humans and animals when swallowed or absorbed through the skin, that has been banned
in the United States for most uses since 1972.

* Ecofeminism = Ecofeminism represents the union of the radical ecology movement,

or what has been called 'deep ecology', and feminism.

* Acculturation = The modification of the culture of a group or individual as a result of

contact with a different culture.

* Colonization = The act or process of establishing a colony or colonies.

References –

a) The Hindu ( Environment Series , 1998 ) – An Indian journal

b) Human Geography – Author De Blijj
c) Human Geography – Author Majid Hussein
d) India‟s Annual Demographic Report – 1999
e) India Today – All series of 1999
f) World Wide Webs

Publication –

This article was published in my third year of 3 years Honours Bachelor Degree Course
( B.Sc.) on “ TRAVERSE ” – A Geographical Institute Magazine , released on the occasion of the 36 th
reunion of Department of Geography , Presidency College , Calcutta ( November 25th. , 2000 ) ; co-
author - Miss P. Ghosh .