Revisiting Women-Nature Connection: From Care Ethics Perspective

Abstract

In this progressive era, the proliferation of industrialisation, deforestation, urbanisation, population growth, immigration, changes in land utilisation and its misuse are resulting towards the constant degradation of the physical and natural environment. Undoubtedly, not all, but many of these problems are the consequence of human action at the cost of the development. Eco-feminism philosophy is based on the ideology of women-nature connection, which could be envisioned in the analyses of different scholars such as Carolyn Merchant, Karen J Warren, Vandana Shiva, Bina Agarwal, Susan Griffin, John O’Neil and others. Their works deduce that a common characteristic of ‘caring’ is possessed by both women and nature. For instance, women nurture their children, family members, and their surroundings regarding domestic roles. In the similar vein, various natural resources are being provided by nature which is required for the sustenance of human life. Through the perusal of previous literature, both women and nature are observed as an object of subjugation by the practices prevailing in the patriarchal society. In this context, the paper would offer a new dimension for understanding the connection between women and nature. Further, this interconnection of women and nature would be observed in the reflection of care ethics. It signifies and emphasises the existence of moral understanding in the constitutional aspect of caring and interpersonal relationship. This work argues that the incorporation of care theory in the conceptual understanding of eco-feminism not only sensitises environmental issues but also offers a theoretical framework for its resolution.