ECOLOGICAL FEMINISM IN VAL PLUMWOOD: AN EVALUATION

Abstract

This paper makes an evaluation of ecological feminism in Val Plumwood, an Australian philosopher.Her idea is an integration of the theories of gender, race and class oppression with that of the domination of nature. She further explains that there is a link between women oppression and the domination of nature.In other words, the problematic of nature has been so closely interwoven with that of gender, because nature has encompassed many different sorts of colonization, domination and oppression; human domination and the domination of nature. According to her, Feminism is seen as a liberation struggle to eradicate domination and exploitation both for women and nature. All notions of dominating nature stem from the very real domination of human by humans. An adequate green philosophy is concerned with human social systems and those of nature; social ecology, deep ecology and ecofeminism.It is insensitive to ignore the social inequality, control and domination of women and nature in the world. She therefore develops an environmental feminism that can be termed a critical ecological feminism, one which is thoroughly accommodating, compatible with and can be strongly based in protecting and preservation both women and nature. This paper concludes that for there to be economic growth, a better environment and sustainable development, the society should endeavor to protect and preserve women and nature