What is Ecofeminism and Why is it Important for Latinas?

Ecofeminism is a term that connects ecology and feminism. It’s a movement that shows the link between nature’s mistreatment and the unfair treatment of women. It suggests that women and nature have a connection because they have both been unfairly treated by a patriarchal society.

Ivone Gebara is a nun from Brazil, a philosopher, and a feminist theologian. She has done important work in ecofeminism. In her work, she critiques traditional Christian concepts and promotes a spirituality that emphasizes social justice, particularly for women and the environment. Gebara’s ecofeminist theology considers the experiences and viewpoints of Latin American women, which have often been neglected. She highlights the connection between gender, socio-economic status, and environmental problems. Her work is still inspiring and guiding the ecofeminist movement.

In her influential work, Longing for Running Water: Ecofeminism and Liberation, Ivone Gebara explores the intertwined relationships between Western ideologies, patriarchal Christian beliefs, and the degradation of our environment. Emphasizing the necessity of personal transformation, she urges individuals to commit to “a new relationship with Earth and the entire cosmos.”

Here are some key takeaways from her work:

• How we talk about God influences our beliefs and how we treat the Earth and the most vulnerable inhabitants.
• A refreshed understanding of God involves seeing God in everything around us, including Earth and all living things.
• God isn’t separate from creation; God is always and everywhere.
• God is within all creation.
• God as relatedness compels us to experience our world differently, not better than, the rest of creation.

For me this is quite in line with my Franciscan spirituality and the value of the dignity of all creation. As Latinas in the United States, this movement is of particular importance to us since we often find ourselves at the intersection of multiple forms of oppression, from racism to sexism, and environmental injustice is no exception.

Many of us have connections to countries or neighborhoods that are disproportionately affected by climate change, even while contributing minimally to global emissions. We have/had family members or friends who work(ed) in agriculture, often in harsh conditions, and are directly affected by changes in weather patterns. We also live in communities where we are more likely to be exposed to pollution and have less access to green spaces.

Ecofeminism offers us a framework to understand these experiences and to fight for environmental justice, not just for nature, but for ourselves and our comunidades. It reminds us that our struggles are interconnected, and that in fighting for the rights of women, we must also fight for the rights of Pachamama (Mother Earth).