1. ‘Ecofeminism and the Gendered Politics of Consumption’ Socialist Feminist Day School Christchurch 26 th April 2014 Sionainn Byrnes

2. 1. Focus Questions

3. - What’s the worst thing you can call a woman?

4. 1. Focus Questions - What’s the worst thing you can call a woman? - What are some of the colloquial terms used to describe a woman’s body?

5. 1. Focus Questions - What’s the worst thing you can call a woman? - What are some of the colloquial terms used to describe a woman’s body?

6. Invectives and Colloquialisms Function According to 3 Types of Logic:

7. -‘Animalized Slurs/Not a Human’ The B Word, The P Word, The C Word

8. Invectives and Colloquialisms Function According to 3 Types of Logic: -‘Animalized Slurs/Not a Human’ The B Word, The P Word, The C Word -‘Not Masculine/Not a Man’ Feminist(!?)

9. Invectives and Colloquialisms Function According to 3 Types of Logic: -‘Animalized Slurs/Not a Human’ The B Word, The P Word, The C Word -‘Not Masculine/Not a Man’ Feminist(!?) -‘Pejorative Reference to Sexuality/the Body’ Immodestly Sexual, Emotional, Hysterical, Anything Menstrual

10. 2. Ecofeminism

11. -Rooted in Second Wave Feminism, though more closely associated with critical theory

12. 2. Ecofeminism -Rooted in Second Wave Feminism, though more closely associated with critical theory -Intersectionality = tied or shared oppressions

13. 2. Ecofeminism -Rooted in Second Wave Feminism, though more closely associated with critical theory -Intersectionality = tied or shared oppressions -Identifies (and to some extent embraces) the historical, metaphorical, and performative interrelationships between femininity and nonhuman nature

14. “Drawing on the insights of ecology, feminism, and socialism, ecofeminism’s basic premise is that the ideology which authorizes oppressions such as those based on race, class, gender, sexuality, physical abilities, and species is the same ideology which sanctions the oppression of nature. Ecofeminism calls for an end to all oppressions, arguing that no attempt to liberate women (or any other oppressed group) will be successful without an equal attempt to liberate nature. Its theoretical base is a sense of self most commonly expressed by women and various other nondominant groups – a self that is interconnected with all life.” -- Gaard (1993)

15. “Drawing on the insights of ecology, feminism, and socialism, ecofeminism’s basic premise is that the ideology which authorizes oppressions such as those based on race, class, gender, sexuality, physical abilities, and species is the same ideology which sanctions the oppression of nature. Ecofeminism calls for an end to all oppressions, arguing that no attempt to liberate women (or any other oppressed group) will be successful without an equal attempt to liberate nature. Its theoretical base is a sense of self most commonly expressed by women and various other nondominant groups – a self that is interconnected with all life.” -- Gaard (1993)

16. “Drawing on the insights of ecology, feminism, and socialism, ecofeminism’s basic premise is that the ideology which authorizes oppressions such as those based on race, class, gender, sexuality, physical abilities, and species is the same ideology which sanctions the oppression of nature. Ecofeminism calls for an end to all oppressions, arguing that no attempt to liberate women (or any other oppressed group) will be successful without an equal attempt to liberate nature. Its theoretical base is a sense of self most commonly expressed by women and various other nondominant groups – a self that is interconnected with all life.” -- Gaard (1993)

17. “Drawing on the insights of ecology, feminism, and socialism, ecofeminism’s basic premise is that the ideology which authorizes oppressions such as those based on race, class, gender, sexuality, physical abilities, and species is the same ideology which sanctions the oppression of nature. Ecofeminism calls for an end to all oppressions, arguing that no attempt to liberate women (or any other oppressed group) will be successful without an equal attempt to liberate nature. Its theoretical base is a sense of self most commonly expressed by women and various other nondominant groups – a self that is interconnected with all life.” -- Gaard (1993)

18. 3. Metanarratives

19. -Towards a Definition of Humanity

20. 3. Metanarratives -Towards a Definition of Humanity -Human/Animal and Culture/Nature

21. 3. Metanarratives -Towards a Definition of Humanity -Human/Animal and Culture/Nature -Self/Other = Privileged Terms and Degraded Terms

22. 3. Metanarratives -Towards a Definition of Humanity -Human/Animal and Culture/Nature -Self/Other = Privileged Terms and Degraded Terms -The Ontological ‘I’

23. 3. Metanarratives -Towards a Definition of Humanity -Human/Animal and Culture/Nature -Self/Other = Privileged Terms and Degraded Terms -The Ontological ‘I’ - Progress necessitates/is predicated on domination

24. 3. Metanarratives -Towards a Definition of Humanity -Human/Animal and Culture/Nature -Self/Other = Privileged Terms and Degraded Terms -The Ontological ‘I’ - Progress necessitates/is predicated on domination - Ecofeminism deconstructs metanarratives and challenges binaries

25. “The major attack against ecofeminism, however, has been that it allegedly claims that women possess an essential nature – a biological connection or a spiritual affinity with nature that men do not.”

26. “The very idea of one group of persons being ‘closer to nature’ than another is a ‘construct of culture.’ ” -- Birkeland 1993

27. “The major attack against ecofeminism, however, has been that it allegedly claims that women possess an essential nature – a biological connection or a spiritual affinity with nature that men do not.” “The very idea of one group of persons being ‘closer to nature’ than another is a ‘ construct of culture.’ ” -- Birkeland 1993

28. 4. Binaries/Dichotomies

29. -Self/Other, Subject/Object, Man/Woman, Human/Animal, Culture/Nature

30. 4. Binaries/Dichotomies -Self/Other, Subject/Object, Man/Woman, Human/Animal, Culture/Nature -Epistemological Precedent by which all other qualities and behaviours are valued/ negatively constituted

31. 4. Binaries/Dichotomies -Self/Other, Subject/Object, Man/Woman, Human/Animal, Culture/Nature -Epistemological Precedent by which all other qualities and behaviours are valued/ negatively constituted -Historic associations different for white women (pure, benevolent) and women of colour (animalized, fetishized, wild) - Invokes other binaries like virgin/whore

32. 5. Intersecting Oppressions

33. -P.E.T.A (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

34. 5. Intersecting Oppressions -P.E.T.A (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) -Micro-aggressions stem from failure to understand and critically engage with intersectionality, thus perpetuating a broader scheme of oppression

35. 5. Intersecting Oppressions -P.E.T.A (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) -Micro-aggressions stem from failure to understand and critically engage with intersectionality, thus perpetuating a broader scheme of oppression -P.E.T.A advertisements necessarily work within the parameters of a capitalist society

38. 5a. Contemporary Feminist Issues

39. -Rape Culture

40. 5a. Contemporary Feminist Issues -Rape Culture -Commodification of Female Bodies

41. 5a. Contemporary Feminist Issues -Rape Culture -Commodification of Female Bodies -Reproductive Rights

42. 5b. Animal Welfare

43. -Industrial Meat Production/Consumption

44. 5b. Animal Welfare -Industrial Meat Production/Consumption -Meat Packaging

45. 5b. Animal Welfare -Industrial Meat Production/Consumption -Meat Packaging -Exploitation of Female Bodies

46. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression

48. Systematic Oppression of Women and Others 6. Shared Sites of Oppression

49. Systematic Oppression of Women and Others Systematic Oppression of Nonhuman Nature 6. Shared Sites of Oppression

50. Systematic Oppression of Women and Others Systematic Oppression of Nonhuman Nature Intersecting Oppressions in Practice 6. Shared Sites of Oppression

52. -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes

54. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes -Domestic Violence

57. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes -Domestic Violence -Industrial Working Conditions

58. Blood, Sweat, and Fear: Workers’ Rights in U.S. Meat and Poultry Plants

59. -Limb Loss

60. Blood, Sweat, and Fear: Workers’ Rights in U.S. Meat and Poultry Plants -Limb Loss -RSI

61. Blood, Sweat, and Fear: Workers’ Rights in U.S. Meat and Poultry Plants -Limb Loss -RSI -Workers’ Organization Disincentivized/ Claims Delayed

62. Blood, Sweat, and Fear: Workers’ Rights in U.S. Meat and Poultry Plants -Limb Loss -RSI -Workers’ Organization Disincentivized/ Claims Delayed -Migrant Workers

63. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes -Domestic Violence -Industrial Working Conditions -Cosmetics Industry

65. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes -Domestic Violence -Industrial Working Conditions -Cosmetics Industry -Environmental Degradation

67. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes -Domestic Violence -Industrial Working Conditions -Cosmetics Industry -Environmental Degradation -Racism

70. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes -Domestic Violence -Industrial Working Conditions -Cosmetics Industry -Environmental Degradation -Pornography -Racism

72. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes -Domestic Violence -Industrial Working Conditions -Cosmetics Industry -Environmental Degradation -Pornography -Racism -LGBQT+

74. 6. Shared Sites of Oppression -Colonization of ‘Virgin’ Landscapes -Domestic Violence -Industrial Working Conditions -Cosmetics Industry -Environmental Degradation -Pornography -Racism -LGBQT+ -Commodification of Menstrual Cycle and Disposal of Sanitary Items

77. 7. Challenging Metanarratives

78. -According to Poststructuralism/Critical Theory, Theory is Practice

79. 7. Challenging Metanarratives -According to Poststructuralism/Critical Theory, Theory is Practice -Theory and Practice another binary?

80. 7. Challenging Metanarratives -According to Poststructuralism/Critical Theory, Theory is Practice. -Theory and Practice another binary? -Is it enough to think differently? What about real life?

81. 7. Challenging Metanarratives -According to Poststructuralism/Critical Theory, Theory is Practice. -Theory and Practice another binary? -Is it enough to think differently? What about real life? -What kind of worlds/forms of social organization can we envision and enact by challenging these metanarratives?

83. 9. Discussion -Is ecofeminism theoretically/practically viable? Thoughts? Critiques? -Should all feminists be environmentally active/conscious? Should all environmentalists be feminists? -Is ecofeminism too Eurocentric? Does it apply outside of Western culture? -Can we consume animals in an egalitarian society? Is ethical consumption accessible to everyone? -Would our values change if we thought of humans in nature, rather than the binary humans and nature? -Is it okay to use words like The B Word etc.? Can we successfully hijack them, or do they need to be avoided? -How will advances in technology affect these dynamics?