Thoughts on Ecofeminism

5 p.m. Sun, Oct 30: Choose one "thread" to pursue w/ your classmates: How might we revise the remainder of the semester to reflect our shared interests? How do you understand/what questions do you have about the intersection of gender and the environment? (Or: what questions did Spretnak's article on ecofeminism answer or raise for you?) And/or what further conversation would you like to have about our other recent, under-discussed readings (Pollan on weeds, White on working for a living, Carson on pesiticide use)? 

I felt like our plan of action to maybe include a trip to Mill Creek or to river, and a possible end of semester thing is realllly nice. I would feel like that would satisfy me as for changing the ways the class is running. Last class, the discussion we had with the three different lists we made discussing the parallels or lack thereof amongst feminism, environtalism, and ecofeminism was a great way to make our discussion of the reading very interactive. Perhaps we could do that more often, have to get down on our hands and knees to make comparison lists? This helped me personally organize my thoughts, so it was easier to speak freely in class. It was a guided discussion using a visual, which felt really helpful.

Also, the discussion on the intersections between environmentalism and feminism was fascinating for me to be a part of. There's a song that we play after the May Hole Dance on May Day, whose main lyrics proclaim "I won't be afraid of women." Perhaps fear is a major parallel between these two movements. People fear, don't understand, feel overpowered by the environment and women empowerment--so work to try to control it. Being afraid often leads to that need to try to control. As Spretnak claims, if there is an elemental power in women, there is also a move to try to control it. So ecofeminism is an effort to try to prevent that, and instead work toward a justice of some sort. So my question would be how to get those two efforts consolidated, and has there been more written on this subject? I'm sure our readings and exploration this coming semester will answer that inquiry.