It is obvious that political environmentalism unfolds differently according to gender. This study aims to explore the heuristic dimension of ecofeminism and contribute to rethinking our contradictions, methods of struggle and possible cross-class alliances in the current context of impending ecological catastrophe.
An ecofeminist wind seems to have been blowing through protests in Europe in recent years, contributing to irrigate not only the critique they present, but also the imagination of new worlds waiting to arise. If ecofeminism has not yet gained traction enough to be socially quantified in the same way as political ecology, it however demonstrates significant potential from a theoretical and strategic perspective.
The environmental and feminist movements seek to question anew both the convergence of struggles and our ways of thinking about forms of domination and their interweaving, get disrupted by these issues, offering fertile grounds for the development of ecofeminism. Furthermore, surveys on the climate marches in France show that women are overrepresented in such protests, with two-thirds of the demonstrators being female (Quantité Critique, 2019).
Clearly, political environmentalism unfolds differently depending on gender. These elements show the need to examine the heuristic dimension of ecofeminism and reread our dissents, ways of fighting, and possible cross-class alliances with a fresh start in the current context of imminent ecological disaster.
Please find the ePaper on the left/below (mobile version) in ‘Documents’ (English, PDF).
Table of Contents
I – GRASPING ECOFEMINISM AS A MOVEMENT
The vague contours of the ecofeminist constituency
Ecofeminism as a response to apocalyptic times
Making the scale of disaster palpable
II – PROTEST AS A TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT
Celebrating life here and now
Reclaiming HERstory
Ecofeminist struggles and legacies
III – THE CONTROVERSIES IN THE ECOFEMINIST MOVEMENT
An essentialist worldview?
Rejection of materialism?
IV – POLITICAL EXPRESSIONS
The influence of ecofeminism on social struggles
A new narrative for the left?