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Since Francoise d'Eaubonne first coined the term eco - feminisme in 1974, a growing number of feminists and environmentalists have been concerned with the links between the domination of women and the domination of nature in Western culture. Although the concept of ecofeminism has come to mean quite different things to different ecofeminists, Karen Warren suggests that it is at least based on the following claims: (i) there are important connections between the oppression of women and the oppression of nature; (ii) understanding the nature of these connections is necessary to any adequate understanding of the oppression of women and the oppression of nature; (iii) feminist theory and practice must include an ecological perspective; and (iv) solutions to ecological problems must include a feminist perspective (1987, 4 - 5). Ecofeminism is thus more than a complement to either feminism or environmental thought; "ecofeminism locates itself as a theory and movement which bridges the gap between feminism and ecology, but which transforms both to create a unified praxis to end all forms of domination" (Sandilands, 3).
Ecofeminists recognize that the association between women and nature has historically been used to exploit them, but they choose to embrace this connection as a source of empowerment and as the basis for their critique of the patriarchal oppression of women and nature. As Robyn Eckersley points out, "[t]his is an explicitly ecofeminist project because it exposes and celebrates what has traditionally been regarded as Other -- both woman and nonhuman nature" (64). Some ecofeminists have argued that women are in a better position than men to relate with nature, that they are in fact closer to nature and hence can derive some unique insight from this bond.
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This ecofeminist discussion takes two forms (66).(f.1) Proponents of the "body - based argument" claim that women, through their unique bodily experiences -- ovulation, menstruation, pregnancy, child birth, and breast - feeding -- are closer to and can more readily connect with nature. The "oppression argument" is based on the belief that women's separate social reality, resulting from a sexual division of lab our and associated oppression, has led women to develop a special insight and connection with nature. In either case, ecofeminists typically derive an ethics based on...