생태여성주의에 대한 비판적 고찰

Abstract

Ecofeminism is an ecological philosophy based on feminism movement. Feminism has been emphasized through various forms of women's human right movement such as stopping violence against women, movement for the gender equality, movement against abortion, and women's liberation movement. Violence against women, however, has continued, only changing its forms and structures more subtle and complicated. Moreover, violence against and exploitation of women are not different from exploitation of the nature and the third world. On this background, this thesis focuses on the ecofeminism as a holistic solution of global environmental crisis and social problems. Though there are as many types of ecofeminism as its theorists, they all share the idea that capitalism combined with modern scientific technology is the cause of the global environmental crisis. Therefore, ecofeminism insists on the restoration of the relationships between the people and with the nature to solve the problems of ecology and the gender equality together. The theories on the feminism and ecology can have their real value only when they are specified with the practical hope. Ecofeminism requires a theory that integrates the history of the nature and the humanbeings. The philosophy for women should not be such as describing the relationships of the abstract concepts, but be something to shed light on the essence of life through approach to women's real life and efforts to change it. The reason why ecofeminism talks about the goddess and spirituality is not to flee from the pain of the world, but to recover the meaning of life through it. Therefore, the ecofeminism is willing to overcome the global environmental crisis by the wisdom of women who have overcome the crisis of the life. The wisdom of women comes from their own experiences. It requires deep connection to the life and realization of the mutuality and interconnectedness. By reconnecting with the old wisdom of women, we can overcome the despair and fear that are brought about by the environmental crisis and modern society. Women will lead the movement to recover the sustainable ecology of the earth, as they did in the past. Ecofeminism should develop a new type of understanding on the relationship of the humans and the nature. It should be a new method of communication which recognizes the value of the diversity of life forms and culture. In this regard, Efforts to change the language of ruling system to a nonviolent language are needed. Nonviolent language can care for the fear under the patriarchy, soothe down the violence in the human mind, and help us reconnect with the original warm heart. It helps us reconnect with ourselves, with other people, and with the nature. Humans are free inherently. This freedom does not mean to freely destroy the environment, but to be free with responsibility on the nature. Humans should do its responsibility to participate in the course of new change, and to connect with the nature, in order to sustain its life as a Being-in-the-world. For this, we should understand the integrated history of the nature and the humans, and be able to use the whole of our emotions and intelligence. We should actively participate in recovering the sustainable ecology of the earth.