Page 210 - Contribution To Phenomenology

PHENOMENOLOGY AND ECOFEMINISM 203

the world as a member of a life community. What these environmentalists
see as a proper way to inhabit the earth in terms of simplicity, avoidance
of a grasping attitude, willingness to Uve and let Uve, and a careful
avoidance of doing damage to the planet is substantially the kind of life
an ecofeminist would advocate.
How then is ecological feminism different? One difference is the
realization of the historical connection between the suppression of women
and the abuse of the natural environment. Deep ecologists seem to be
insufficiently aware of this significant factor, one which continues to have
an effect upon our social Ufe. It is important that our pursuit of a
sustainable society not be too reductive and seen only in biological terms.
Ecological feminists will make certain that issues of peace and justice are
not neglected.
Ecological feminists are doing what all holists have known in theory.
Humans are a part of nature, as much so as any other creature. It has
been all too easy to lose sight of this, to lose sight of the social aspects
of the preservation of the earth. Ecological feminists keep the environ-
mental movement reminded of the human factors.
In large part the difference between ecological feminists and those
environmentalists who do not feel an affinity for feminism seems to be
a matter of style, and I do not mean this in a derogatory way. Ecological
feminists speak more of the underrepresented peoples of the world and
the need to listen to them. There is more concern about communication
and understanding other people than is found in the writing of many
environmentaUsts. Ecological feminists seem to be interested in under-
standing why people think and act as they do, and this leads to openness
and toleration and a desire to help people work things out together. It
is a typically feminist thing to care more about correcting what is wrong
through cooperative interchange than about placing blame.
It is probably a bit early to see all of the differences between
ecological feminists and other environmentaUsts. I cannot clearly identify
in myself those differences which are ecofeminist, in part, as mentioned,
because I had been influenced by leadership practices now identified with
feminism long before I knew how important feminism or environmen-
talism would be to me. It is possible that the ecological feminist style will
show up in poUtical and economic actions. What would we look for? A
clear indication of feminist influence wouW be more effort to work out
differences cooperatively and less willingness to run roughshod over the
opposition on the basis of a majority vote. Whether this will happen in