This pertains to the branch of feminism that explores the relationship between women and nature. In other words, ecofeminists relate genders to the way the relationship between humans and the natural world works.
Just like feminism, it is an intellectual critique inasmuch as political activism. It is a social movement that argues that the underestimation and oppression of women in society and the environment’s degradation are both a result of patriarchy and capitalism. In short, ecofeminists believe that the culture of power and domination brought about by the unequal treatment of genders is the same motivation that leads to environmental exploitation.
But what is the view of Australia about this? Let’s find out.
What Are Capitalism and Patriarchy?
In the social system patriarchy, men are the ones that hold the predominant power and key roles in different social and political fields. On the other hand, capitalism is the economic and political system in which the trade and industry of a country are controlled by private sectors to gain profit of their own instead of the state.
The depth of ecofeminism lies in the principle that prioritising the economy and putting society in the backseat because of the goal of growth and profit results in the creation of consumerism and commercialism. For ecofeminists, this is the essence of capitalist patriarchy. Everything seems to have a price tag and nothing has any value.
Capitalist Patriarchy – The Intersection
According to ecofeminists, when capitalism and patriarchy meet, they encourage domination such as men over women, and the manic looting of resources so as to have control over nature. This domineering becomes so strong that it eventually becomes a seemingly never-ending cycle until, perhaps, the world decides that it’s enough.
Additionally, they see that it’s the same masculinist mentality of corporate greed that doesn’t care much or at least seems indifferent to the destruction of the earth as long as it gets what it wants, is the very same mindset that denies women their rights to their own bodies and sees the prolific abuse and savagery against them as the way to go. In short, on both occasions, they rely on similar dominance in order to shove their way to power.
In the end, the victims of both are the most vulnerable sectors such as locals and mostly women. Due to this vulnerability, women are more exposed to every form of violence imaginable.
As an example, when global companies turn to cheap labour production in other developing countries, where workers are predominantly young women, in the worst working conditions, and criminally low wages. Ecofeminists maintain that without this violence and exploitation in pursuit of wealth and power by men, capitalism wouldn’t have these obsessions for growth and profit at the expense of women.
What Is Australia’s Stand on Ecofeminism?
As the country is currently in the thick of weighing its stand about misogyny and sexism, there’s another socio-political movement that Australia is looking deeper into. A shift in focus is slowly taking shape as the earth is at its turning point where the degradation of our environment that goes with growth and profit is almost directly proportional to the way women are treated unfairly in society.
Australian women all around the world have become so fed up with this “tired, stale, fight” and what’s at stake has clearly become bigger than ever that they felt like at least a mitigation has to be taken. These women definitely want change, an alternative, or a so-called paradigm shift.
The big question is, is there an alternative to what is currently going on? Is there any hope? Fortunately, ecofeminists are very optimistic that they can make some changes.
Current Situation in Australia
There are around one in every five women in Australia of at least 15 years old who have experienced some form of sexual violence at some point in their lives. On the other hand, it is much higher in terms of physical violence as there are one in every three women who have experienced it, starting from age 15.
The unfortunate part of all of these is the fact that there is very low reporting and as a consequence, low conviction of these sexual-related violent crimes. These, in effect, make these events a never-ending cycle of oppression for women and the perpetrators getting the upper hand in terms of justice.
A lot might not have been aware but this issue has been widespread. However, instead of them being entirely visible for everyone to see, they seem to have been hinged obscurely in the justice system that they’re supposed to hold in high regard. How is this even possible in this day and age? That’s the mystery that surely has to be uncovered.
With this, ecofeminists propose a new vision for our world and to have a cultural and economic model to end this cycle. What the world needs right now is to create a world that’s sustainable, nonviolent, and with equality. It doesn’t need to grow at the expense of women and the destruction of nature. And with that, count Australia in joining the movement.