Thanks for checking out my ecofeminism blog! If you don’t already know anything about this strand of feminism, I’m sure you’re wondering what it is, so today I want to give a basic overview of ecofeminism. Maybe you’ve never thought about it before, or maybe you have, but Western societies, in general, value their lives and needs above the lives and needs of everything else on earth. Humans from these societies tend to view nature as existing for them, for their needs. This is called instrumentalism, the foundation of which can be found as far back as the book of Genesis in the Bible (McHenry 2). This belief that nature exists solely for human use has led to the domination and subjugation of nature by humans. We abuse nature for our needs, whether it be tearing down trees and habitats for more housing, engaging in harmful and damaging farming practices for our food, killing animals for sport or food, drilling for oil, dumping pollutants and sewage into bodies of water, or our current “factory” style farming practices for food, among other things. According to ecofeminism, the oppression of nature and the oppression of women are linked and neither can be free until both are. According to environmentalist Laura Hobgood-Oster, “ecofeminism asserts that all forms of oppression are connected and that the structures of oppression must be addressed in their totality” (Hobgood-Oster 1). Patriarchal systems are the basis of oppression (Hobgood-Oster 1). Ecofeminism “challenges structures rather than individuals” and “reflect varied political stances” (Hobgood-Oster 2). One of the main goals of ecofeminism is to dismantle the binaries that form the basis for oppression (Hobgood-Oster 2). Ecofeminism supports and celebrates the diversity of all forms of life and seeks to free all living things that are oppressed by patriarchy. A huge component of some ecofeminism is also the idea that women and the earth are connected, whether it be women historically and currently being involved in agriculture and food gathering, or as the myth that women and earth/nature were in the same lower category of being. This has, however, garnered some criticism as being “essentialist in nature,” or that it claims all people of the same category are the same (Hobgood-Oster 12-13). However, at its core, I believe ecofeminism is about freeing all living things from oppression. We all have the right to live and thrive on this earth. The natural world deserves to be free and has value on its own, not only because it can provide something for humans. Ecofeminism wants all living things to thrive and for diversity of both humans and nature to be celebrated and protected.
Image from Chrissonam via Pixabay
I’ve chosen to analyze the image “Mother Earth, Gaia, Goddess” by Chrissonam from an ecofeminist perspective. Essentially, as Hobgood-Oster states, this image emphasizes the “women/nature connection” (Hobgood-Oster 12). This image asserts that women are connected to the earth and responsible for nature. If the earth and women are connected, the connection between the oppression of nature and patriarchy is even clearer. Nature and the earth are feminine, and therefore not on the same plane as men and masculinity and therefore need to be subjugated and controlled.
Image (AI Generated) from Tim_HD via Pixabay
Besides the “Mother Earth” connection, another example of women and nature being connected is the DC villain Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy is an enemy of Batman and attacks humans via ecoterrorism in order to assert nature’s dominance. Her costume is covered in leaves and vines, much like her namesake plant. She is a woman seeking vengeance for nature, depicted like she is one with nature, a powerful image and connection of women and nature.
That’s all I have this week, and I hope you were able to learn something about ecofeminism!
Sources:
Chrissonam. Mother Earth Gaia Goddess. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/illustrations/mother-earth-gaia-goddess-mother-8674332/
Hobgood-Oster, Laura. “Ecofeminism: Historic and International Evolution.” UMassD WGS 307 Blackboard: What Is Ecofeminism? Learning Module. https://umassd.umassonline.net/ultra/courses/_36339_1/cl/outline
McHenry, Kristen. “Ecofeminism Background.” UMassD WGS 307 Blackboard: What Is Ecofeminism? Learning Module. https://umassd.umassonline.net/ultra/courses/_36339_1/cl/outline
Tim_HD. AI Generated Poison Ivy Villain. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-poison-ivy-villain-8989484/
“Poison Ivy (character).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation. 5 February 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_Ivy_(character)
Hi Elizabeth,
Your blog provides an in-depth introduction to ecofeminism, skillfully tying together the historical and contemporary effects of patriarchal systems on women and nature. By emphasizing how instrumentalism in Western cultures contributes to environmental harm, you highlight the pressing need to tackle interconnected forms of oppression. The visual examples of “Mother Earth” and Poison Ivy effectively illuminate your arguments, enhancing the exploration of the symbolic relationship between women and the earth.
Hi Elizabeth,
I agree about the abuse of nature for our own individual needs. I also wrote about tearing down trees and habitats. One large thing that is present at least in Rhode Island is the pollutants and sewage in water. The Providence river is filled with trash and recycling and sewage. There was a recent video circulating the Internet of a bridge being torn down and debris all fell into the water below it in Providence. This is just one small example of little things we do that can cause major damage to our bodies of water.
Hobgood does an excellent job at portraying the assertion of oppression, and how they are all connected. Ecofeminism supports diversity and advocates for the dismantle of patriarchy.
I love your blog! You did a fantastic job breaking down ecofeminism and its main concepts. I especially liked how you connected the oppression of nature with the oppression of women, highlighting the shared struggle within patriarchal systems. Your mention of Poison Ivy as an example of women being connected to nature was a creative and engaging way to tie it all together