Eco-feminism and Animal Rights

Paper Summary:

Since the 1970s, the feminist movement has expanded in many directions. There are feminists solely concerned with equal rights for women who are part of the liberal wing of feminism. There are the romantic feminists who contend that women and men really are different, but that the superiority is on the side of women's socialization. The paper shows that there are also feminists who have connected more with international movements for social justice, sustainability and ecological rights. This paper conducts an interview with a feminist involved with the animals rights movement. It then briefly explores the connection between feminism and animal rights by analyzing available literature on the subject.

From the Paper:

"Vandana Shiva (1989) provided many concrete examples of the connection between women's oppression, and suffering, and the degradation of the natural world. She also talked about the way that ordinary women themselves have begun to make that connection and start to fight back to preserve the parts of their world that allow them to survive. For example, the Chipko movement in India was begun by women who sought to stop deforestation by literally hugging trees, trying to keep the trees from being removed. For them, the trees, and a sustainable forest ecology, meant the ability to provide heat, energy, cooking fuel, and other necessities for their families. They realized that with deforestation and development came poverty. Development, in the Western style, was not desirable to many of them."

More papers on Eco-feminism and Animal Rights:

• Essay # 37478 : "Biodiversity and Animal Rights"
• Essay # 72593 : "Ethics and Animal Rights"
• Essay # 70563 : "Animal Rights"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: