Page 200 - Contribution To Phenomenology

Chapter 8

Phenomenology and Ecofeminism

Don Marietta
Florida Atlantic University

Abstract: Ecological feminism is an important aspect of environ-
mentalism and is making important contributions to environmental
ethics. It is also of particular interest to phenomenologist for several
reasons. Ecofeminists use methods very similar to those of
phenomenological analysis. Also the emphasis on contextual and
pluralistic ethics calls for attention to the voices of many different
types of people who had been ignored. This gives phenomenologists
opportunity to look at many types of lived worlds; this can add
intersubjective richness to our Returning to the matters themselves."

Ecological feminism is an important aspect of environmentalism. It is
important to the environmental movement and to the development of
environmental ethics. A growing body of literature attests to the
significance of ecological feminism. The active work of feminists in the
cause of preserving the natural world, as seen in the World Women's
Congress for a Healthy Planet in 1991 and in the activity of women at
the World Summit in Rio, shows the important role of women in
environmental concerns. Phenomenologists who are not already doing so
should take note of the important work done by ecogical feminists. We
should, as human beings who are dependent upon a natural environment
and share some responsibility for the health of the planet, be knowledg-
eable about important aspects of environmentalism, and ecological
feminism is important. As phenomenologists we will find that we have
some significant affinities with ecofeminism, and will find that we are
able to understand this approach to environmental philosophy and ethics
at a depth not open to those who have not acquired a phenomenologi-
cal approach.

193
M. Daniel and L. Embree (eds.), Phenomenology of the Cultural Disciplines, 193-210.
© 1994 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.