Women and Ecofeminism: An Approach to Sustainable Development

Abstract

Nowadays, both the environmental theme and sustainable development theories occupy a central place in the debates of several areas of knowledge, requiring a more in-depth reflection on human behaviors among themselves and the natural environment. In light of this, it must be considered that societies based on the capitalist mode of production present a great difficulty in ensuring human, social and environmental development that is sustainable and, at the same time, has advanced towards dehumanization and destruction of the planet. 

Based on the method of socio-historical-analytical procedure and a feminist approach, this paper seeks to analyze the relationship between women and the environment, inquiring if there is any relation between exploitation and domination of nature and domination and subordination of women in the gender relations. Studies based on ecofeminist theories have found that there is a consistent link between the exploitation of the natural environment and women. This link is supported by processes based on the capitalist mode of production and on patriarchal human relations, since there is an objectification of both women and nature. This shows that the proximity between women and ecosystem is much closer than by a natural factor, but by the conditions of power imposed. Thus, in front of the environmental crisis, the ideas and experiences of care and solidarity experienced by women are valid in order to propose alternatives for changes aimed at a sustainable development.