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Philosophy compares women, environment

The roles of Mother Nature and women are an easy parallel to make, but when the economy and man are factored into the equation, the ecofeminist philosophy takes shape.

Baffling though the term seems, one University professor was able to provide some clarity.

“Ecofeminism is essentially the way in which both women and nature are regarded as ’secondary’ in this male-dominated, contemporary society,” said Piers Stephens, assistant professor in philosophy with a specialty in environmental philosophy.

It’s basic feminism – just with some figurative modifications. Simply replace the role of men with the economy, that of women with the environment, and let the exploitation games begin.

Stephens and others will share their perspectives in the “Environmental Justice and Ecofeminism: Ethical Complexity in Action” symposium. Speakers will provide insights into this green branch of feminism – though basic exploitative roles are the same.

“The male ideals of success revolve around work – a high status means high income. But it also depends on types of support, and this is mostly through female labor, be it a wife, mother or maid,” Stephens said.

According to the feminist perspective, it is this support that fuels the basics of male success.

However, within this construct, there is a sense of exploitation, implied expectation and non-recognition of such work.

The same power play can be seen between the environment and the economy. According to Stephens, Mother Nature is “rendered invisible” to the majority of society.

Ecofeminist philosophy goes a tad deeper. It speculates on the roles of abstraction and reality, saying we tend to accept the former as the latter.

“Society tends to flip the relation of the real, natural thing with the abstract,” Stephens said.

More specifically, Stephens’ point is illustrated by the never-ending chase for cash – despite the fact that it has no inherent value.

In actuality, its value is based upon the environment’s ability to feed this flourishing economy and give money its worth.

But Stephens said it is the system of “economic accounting” that values and devalues the two. Consequently, Mother Nature takes the backseat.

“Abstraction [cash] is mistaken for reality and the underlying reality [nature] ignored.”

Today, Stephens will present a paper that deals with the role of property rights and ownership.

He captures the plight of the environment and how it is intertwined with the rise of property rights.

In brief, he argues that “we can rethink the idea of property rights around the idea of bonds to our natural environment.”

Basing his argument on protection rather than exploitation, Stephens seeks a medium between the two extremes.

Today’s symposium is in line with this year’s national Women’s History Month theme, “Women: Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet.”

The event is in honor of Val Plumwood, a leading contributor in the development of ecofeminism and radical environmental philosophy.

Oddly enough, it was a near-death encounter with a crocodile and what seemed like the treachery of nature that led to Plumwood’s rather unexpected epiphany.

“It made her realize that although we are humans and we are rational beings, we deny our fundamental connection to the world,” Stephens said.

“You realize you are not a prestigious environmental philosopher; you are a part of the food chain.”