As we learned from our readings on Understanding Place, our identities and the way we experience the world are shaped by our surroundings. I think this can create a close-minded take on the world, when we aren’t aware of others experiences shaping the way they lived. It’s easy to see from an egotistical point of view when you are only seeing the world through your eyes, and so much of our government and society and based upon the perspectives of a homogeneous group of people, often leaving out critical standpoints of the many different identities that make up our communities. Beverly Daniel Tatum says, “Dominant groups, by definition, set the parameters within which the subordinates operate,” (The Complexity of Identity 11). Ecofeminism has the potential to be a movement for everyone, because of its opposition to a natural hierarchy where, “human hierarchy is projected onto nature and then used to justify social domination,” (King). But, according to The Necessity of Black Women’s Standpoint, ecofeminism has been largely a white women’s movement, often leaving out critical perspectives of other women whose experiences differ from theirs. This is similar to the natural hierarchy that they are working to dismantle. So, within the ecofeminist movement there is social domination that need to be addressed and fixed in order to make one single and totally inclusive social and political movement. A major example of environmental racism and sexism would be the Flint water crisis in Michigan. This is poor, black community that has been largely ignored by our government. The women of this community are particularly affected through reproductive injustice. The contaminated water causes infertility and miscarriages (Cain).
It’s interesting because ecofeminism understands the interlocking of oppression under the web of patriarchy. Each oppression like racism, classism, sexism, ableism, and so on are all tied together because they deviate from the standard white, heterosexual, upper-middle class, able-bodied male. Yet, it fails to look at how these oppression still operate within these subordinated groups. There is still racism within feminism, there is still sexism within racially oppressed communities. They say, “The critique of ecofeminism and fact that the environmental justice movement does not focus on how sexism affects black women in its intersectional approaches supports the argument that there needs to be an environmental movement centered around black women’s standpoint,” (Cain). I would go further and say that the ecofeminist movement needs to have a standpoint from all kinds of people, poor or rich, black or white, disabled or not, lesbian or straight, male or female. In order for the movement to be a movement for all, it needs to dismantle each oppression and not focus on the perspective of one oppressed group.
Hello,
I really agree with your last statement “In order for the movement to be a movement for all, it needs to dismantle each oppression and not focus on the perspective of one oppressed group”.
I think more and more the study of feminism is incorporating more standpoints and views from a bigger variety of people.
I know In one of my Women studies courses we are studying motherhood and feminism from the LGBT view and how there intersectionalites affect their lives.
To think about the many intercestional connections that one person may have is actually incredible. For example, let’s say you have a black woman who is a lesbian, who lives in poverty and is disabled. The possibilities are truly endless, which is why we need to really embrace these interconnections in the feminist work so that we can develop a better understanding for all.
I totally agree with you.
Hi Victoria,
Your summation at the end about needing to defeat all prejudices in order for ecofeminism to be successful. I think that rings true to most movements as well as most things in order to live harmoniously together. While I think we are unfortunately years away from that possibility I do think that it is important that we keep fighting for effective change and something that affects all humans (though not necessarily to the same degree but it does affect everyone) is environmental issues. Your statement brought me back to this week’s reading about Matsuda’s theory of “asking the other question”. This theory makes a lot of sense because when we are faced with insectionality and even the environment when we dig deep and ask a seemingly unrelated question we dig deeper into the problems and issues and hopefully by doing the digging we can find a solution a few layers deep that will help with the surface issue. “…allows for the exposition of hidden forms of prejudice and discrimination, by exposing the various disadvantages and privileges which make up the lived experiences and complex identities of every individual e.g. the black woman, the male Mexican migrant worker, or the North American female university professor. Asking the other question is a useful practical device which promotes a basic awareness of the multiplicity of experience, but it also serves as a reminder to remain aware of one’s potential prejudices (Project Muse – Intersectionality).”
Victoria,
This weeks’ material made me consider the saying, “put yourself in someone else’s shoes”, which without practice, can be difficult. We are all so different from each other, but if we can evaluate our own intersectionality, we might be able to relate to others who come from different parts of the connected “web”. Seeing through “another lens”, is humbling and oftentimes inspiring depending on which lens you’re looking through.