Environmental degradation heavily affects women in the Global South, especially regarding water access and sanitation issues. Women and girls are often responsible for collecting water, a task that is “dangerous, time-consuming, and physically demanding.” These long trips not only put them at risk of attacks but also reduce their chances for education and earning an income. Also, poor sanitation facilities heighten the risk of abuse as women may have no choice but to use unsafe or shared spaces for personal needs. The absence of clean, private facilities complicates menstrual hygiene management during menstruation or pregnancy care further impacting their health and dignity.
To effectively tackle these challenges, it is essential to integrate a gender-sensitive approach into environmental and water management policies. Engaging women in the planning, decision-making, and oversight of water and sanitation services ensures that their unique needs are met while safeguarding their rights. The UN-Water initiative highlights the importance of designing policies and action plans that address women’s requirements by involving them in service governance. By implementing such inclusive strategies, we not only advance gender equality but also enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of environmental projects, ultimately boosting community well-being as a whole.
Women in the Global South are significantly impacted by environmental degradation because their survival and livelihoods often depend directly on natural resources. Vandana Shiva points out that in rural India, where many women reside, “Nature is their means of production.” Their reliance on local ecosystems for necessities such as firewood, fodder, medicinal plants, and water makes ecological destruction a threat to their ability to support their families. For instance, Shiva underscores the importance of Himalayan forests in the lives of rural women. She notes that “These women knew much more about the local diversity than any trained forester could,” highlighting both their profound connection with nature and extensive knowledge required for sustainable living within these environments.
When environmental harm takes place, like deforestation or water pollution, women in the Global South often face significant challenges. From Shiva’s involvement with the Chipko movement, she collaborated with peasant women who “were stepping up and hugging trees to stop logging,” demonstrating their proactive response to ecological degradation. The destruction of forests or loss of biodiversity signifies not only a depletion of resources but also an injustice, particularly impacting women who are chiefly responsible for managing household resources.
Western and non-Western ecofeminist perspectives share a fundamental critique of the interconnected domination of women and nature but differ in their conceptual frameworks and focal concerns. Western ecofeminism, as seen in thinkers like Carolyn Merchant and Ynestra King, often emphasizes ideological and symbolic connections between women and nature, rooted in cultural representations and historical shifts such as the Scientific Revolution. These perspectives critique patriarchal constructs that associate women with nature, reinforcing gender hierarchies and environmental degradation. Many Western ecofeminists also advocate for a philosophical reimagining of human-nature relations, proposing non-hierarchical, egalitarian frameworks that integrate feminist and environmentalist concerns.
In contrast, non-Western ecofeminism, as exemplified by Bina Agarwal, places greater emphasis on material conditions, socio-economic structures, and lived experiences, particularly in the Global South. Agarwal critiques the symbolic and essentialist framing of women’s connection to nature, arguing that women’s environmental engagement is shaped more by their economic roles and survival needs than by inherent affinities. She highlights how poor rural women in India are both victims of environmental degradation and active participants in grassroots environmental movements, advocating for solutions that integrate gender justice with sustainable development. While both Western and Non-Western ecofeminists seek to dismantle oppressive systems, the former often prioritizes ideological critique, whereas the latter emphasizes structural inequalities and practical resistance.
The perspective from which one approaches ecofeminism can greatly influence their understanding, but I find Bina Agarwal’s Non-Western viewpoint particularly compelling. She effectively addresses the material realities faced by women in the Global South. Her analysis of symbolic and ideological ties between women and nature sheds light on how environmental degradation disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, especially rural women who rely heavily on natural resources for survival. By concentrating on socio-economic structures and lived experiences, Agarwal offers a more action-oriented framework that underscores the importance of gender-sensitive policies and grassroots activism to create meaningful change.
The focus of Western ecofeminism on ideological critique remains important in uncovering the entrenched cultural norms that have long sanctioned environmental degradation and gender oppression. Thinkers like Carolyn Merchant provide essential historical analysis of how scientific and economic developments have influenced these power structures. Nevertheless, I find Agarwal’s perspective more relevant to practical activism because it extends beyond theoretical discourse to offer actionable solutions that empower women while addressing systemic inequalities.
Shiva, Vandana. “In the Footsteps of Gandhi: An Interview with Vandana Shiva.” Global Research, 22 May 2016, www.globalresearch.ca/in-the-footsteps-of-gandhi-an-interview-with-vandana-shiva/5505135.
United Nations, “Water and Gender.” UN-Water, www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-and-gender