StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Religion, Feminism, and Environmentalism - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Modern women have commonly contributed to these developments as their religious traditions and the evolution of the world directs them towards the ecological sustainability and their role in the development of the ecology. …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.3% of users find it useful
Religion, Feminism, and Environmentalism
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Religion, Feminism, and Environmentalism"

? Number] Religion, Feminism and Environmentalism Introduction: The Hindu, Christian and Buddhist women have long worked for the development of the ecological sustainability. These women have commonly contributed to these developments as their religious traditions and the evolution of the world directs them towards the ecological sustainability and their role in the development of the ecology. The concept of ecological sustainability in the Hindu traditions goes back to the traditional beliefs of respecting and creating a special relationship with the environment around. Similarly, in Christian women the ecological sustainability revives the tradition that God gave this world to the creatures for their use and dominance over the earth and all its creations. Buddhism also promotes the idea of environmental ethics in the daily lives of the people to promote a non-violent ecology. What is ecological feminism? Ecological feminism is a term that describes the parallel system of environmental exploitation and exploitation of women in the society. These theories suggest that the natural resources and women, both are exploited by the dominance of men. Men are dominant on nature and women because these are the powerless groups. The control over nature is seen as parallel to the control over women. The male dominance in the society is seen by the eco-feminists as the reason for the environmental crisis that we are facing. The male dominance agents include fights for power, political ties, the male oriented culture of decision making etc., and these are merely the reasons for the destruction of the environment. The ecological feminist theories also play an important role to highlight the relationship among the environmental politics and the philosophy of the society. These theories say that this relation is enhanced by the focus on gender. Philosophically, eco-feminism is the name given to the concept that talks about the link of ecology and feminism. This concept may be supported and opposed by the examination of this link. Some of the conceptual frameworks that are covered under the theory of eco-feminism are the distinction among feminism and animal liberation, violence and exploitation of environment etc. Ecological feminism shows that man is dominant on both; nature and women (Warren 25). Feminism is linked with ecology and eco-feminists argue that there is a deep connection between nature and women. Women have the potential to dominate the environment. The reasons for this link are the oppression that is faced commonly by women and nature at the hands of the male dominant, patriarchal society. Women are believed to have ecological knowledge ever since the society emerged. They connect with the environment through the daily interactions they make with nature’s processes. Ecological feminism in India: Feminism in India describes the equality of men and women that is established on social, political and economic level. Feminists in India are active and have quite successfully provided the women in India with equal rights in health, work and politics. This has led to many developments of which women have been a huge part whether it is the abolition of Sati, independent organizations for women movements by Gandhi or the equality in men and women observed in modern India. Women were treated and feminism was considered to be different in India than in the West. Religion has played a major role to identify the power of women in India, and women are given the cultural space. The western society rather believes in individualism and free rights because of which feminism is promoted. The views of Hindus about nature are evident from the Hindu scripture and philosophy. According to the spirituality of Hindus, the women have greatly contributed in the ecological developments since the beginning. Their long history of Goddesses also shows the formative role of women in Hindu culture and religion, for example the association of women such as Lakshmi and Jaya with rivers to symbolize purity. Since Indian religion and traditions were strong, women movements started becoming more common especially at the time of Gandhi when a woman movement was initiated to respond to the financial interests, replanting forests and economic development. The movement was worldwide recognized as symbolic for the liberation of women. Hindu conceptions of women and their divine position, earth and nature have led to the increased role of women in farming, environment, industries etc. (Nelson 65). Christianity and eco-feminism: Some of the Christian thinkers concluded that the environmental problems that the Christians are facing are merely the result of Christianity practises and ideas. This concept was questionable and was opposed by many stating that God did give power to the humans but in the condition that they use it wisely and with care. This context is used to link the Christianity to the environmental crisis suffered by the society. Christianity also talks about eco-feminism and spirituality to address to the solutions of the environmental problems. They observe that masculine dominance exists on the earth and over women, and spirituality will help to modify these aspects. Women have raised their voices throughout the Christian traditions to deal with the ecological problems. Theories have been developed in regard to the philosophical aspect which considers earth and nature to be sacred. Religious Christian movements have provided a framework for the ecological sustainability (Conradie 3). The ecological theology is the attempt to revive the ecological wisdom in Christianity so that the environmental injustices will be resolved. The idea is to renew the traditions and overcome the sexist hierarchy present in the society. The sexist hierarchy highlights the male dominance, patriarchal culture and the feminine critique because of which ecological problems incur. The ecological theory does not only help the Christian traditions to enhance the ecological concerns, but rather it allows them to be reformed and renewed. Ruether was a feminist theologian whose points were to remove the traces of sexism from the society and understand the role of women. She questioned the religious traditional theories that were apparently written by men for men. She focused on a theory written by women for women (Gottlieb 104). Ecological sustainability in Buddhism: In the Buddhist point of view, all beings can be free from pain and suffering if they start treating others with happiness and love. All beings should tend to help each other in order to gain a stronger society. Some of the Buddhist scholars describe the ecological sustainability principles as consciousness that lies within the beings. In order to achieve ecological sustainability, all beings should be aware of all that is happening around them. The scholars suggest that consuming more and more is not the way to achieve true happiness. We need to change our lifestyle and bring joy into our lives. The principles that need to be adopted are preserving the Earth and nature by consuming less and not depriving ourselves. Buddhist has mindful of concepts that teach about the ecological connections between people, animals and nature. However, Buddhist nuns and women play a very insufficient role in the ecological affairs. Being a Buddha feminist scholar, Rita Gross has the chance to bring out the modern Buddhist woman in the society. Her articles and her books focus on the gender equality highlighted in the religion but never noticed. Through her writings, she respects the women spirituality and their role in the religion of Buddhism. She does believe on the traditional oppression and harm for the women, but she is focused to change those perceptions (Gross 79). Conclusion: Thus, every religion has their own way of dealing with the principles of ecological sustainability but the common features seen are the eco-feminist theories. These theories focus on the relation of women and nature which are bound by religious, traditional and social boundaries. Whether it is individualism, equality or religious history, women are seen as linked to the environment and the society around them. It is essential that God has made and placed women at a place through which her actions are directly linked to the earth and nature. Work Cited Conradie Ernst. Christianity and Ecological Theology: Resources for further research. Stellenbosch: African Sun Media, 2006. Print. ? Gottlieb Roger. This Sacred Earth: Religion, Nature, Environment. NY: Routledge, 1996. Print. ? Gross Rita. Buddhism after Patriarchy: A Feminist History, Analysis, and Reconstruction of Buddhism. NY: State University of New York Press, 1993. Print. ? Nelson Lance. Purifying the Earthly Body of God: Religion and Ecology in Hindu India. NY: SUNY Press, 1998. Print. ? Warren Karen. Ecological Feminism. NY: Routledge, 1994. Print. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Religion, Feminism, and Environmentalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1468098-religion-feminism-and-environmentalism
(Religion, Feminism, and Environmentalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1468098-religion-feminism-and-environmentalism.
“Religion, Feminism, and Environmentalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1468098-religion-feminism-and-environmentalism.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Religion, Feminism, and Environmentalism

Environmental Ethics

For instance, there is always a significant link between the dominant forces of nature and women, which is essential to understand three things that is feminism, philosophy of the environment and environmentalism.... This philosophy has been really popular and many relate the ethics of the environment to feminism and have their contradictions over the patriarchal issue and the biases as well as the dominance that comes in hand with the situation.... In recent times a new concept has emerged which amalgamates ecology and feminism in such a way that both become reinforcing....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Is There Something Distinctive about Environmental Social Movements

It follows that environmentalism today has gained much success in encouraging people to adopt more environmental friendly products, methods and reducing dumping of wastes in the environment in advocating for “green living”.... As a result, environmentalism has become a common topic in forming political ideologies to support different efforts and goals towards “saving the world” (Goodwin & Jasper, 2003).... With these dynamics and the great success that environmentalism has achieved today, the report will investigate the unique aspects of social environmentalist groups and their approach to environmentalism....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

The Emergence of Environmentalism as a Major Force in Modern Politics

The emergence of environmentalism as a major force in modern politics Your Name Name of of Professor The emergence of environmentalism as a major force in modern politics Baron de Montesquieu was perhaps the first political theorist to link politics with the environment when he proposed that laws must be framed in accordance with the geographical and climatic conditions of a nation (Montesquieu, Of Laws in Relation to the Nature, n.... hellip; Over the centuries environmentalism has become a multifaceted political subject touching upon the spheres of ethics, globalization, gender politics and sustainable development....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Environmental Ethics

For instance, there is always a significant link between the dominant forces of nature and women, which is essential to understand three things that is feminism, philosophy of the environment and environmentalism.... This philosophy has been really popular and many relate the ethics of the environment to feminism and have their contradictions over the patriarchal issue and the biases as well as the dominance that comes in hand with the situation.... (Warren, 2000) Similarly like feminism many forms of ecofeminism prevail....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Social Movements in Opposition to American Capitalism's

This is not a plot from a dystopian film, but a reality of the new… global order, an order that is burdened with complex conflicts that intersect class, gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, politics, and environmentalism.... On the one hand, the force of globalization grows and expands; on the other hand, anti-globalization rises to challenge it and to claim power for those who were marginalized and suffered because of globalization....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Why, if At All, Does Green Theory Need Utopianism

In Green Theory “green” means environmentally friendly, and “greening” means environmental improvement through politicized environmentalism mostly.... Utopia depicts a fictional island with its own distinctive religion and customs, as conceptualized by Sir Thomas More, who wrote the book Utopia in 1516....
11 Pages (2750 words) Coursework

Vegetarian Ecofeminist and Environmental Ethics

Ecofeminists who are ecologically-minded feminists have advanced the issue of vegetarianism as a moral outcome of feminism.... feminism since the 1960s has been involved in advancing greater reproductive freedom where abortion is practiced safely yet no one has lobbied on behalf of animal abortion and the possible implications (Gaard 237).... If animals are wronged morally and humans have direct and indirect duty to treat the animals morally, it can be argued that humans have the moral standing to nonhuman animals whether the duty is implied by their religion or beliefs....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Religion, Feminism and Environmentalism

This work called "Religion, Feminism, and environmentalism" focuses on the Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist women and the development of ecological sustainability.... Some of the conceptual frameworks that are covered under the theory of eco-feminism are the distinction between feminism and animal liberation, violence, and exploitation of the environment, etc.... Ecological feminism is a term that describes the parallel system of environmental exploitation and exploitation of women in society....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us