Environmental degradation is this idea that the planet is breaking down due common practices of humans. Anything that humans do that hurts the environment in some way is a type of environmental degradation. Women in the Global South are suffering the consequences of environmental degradation from the poor water supply. The water is not clean, and they do not have easy access to water. Women rely on water for basic hygiene, but in this part of the world the women are the ones who are expected to go out and get water for their families. It is very different from how it is here because there are no pipes running through their house and they do not have the ability to turn on the faucet and have clean water in seconds. Everyone relies on water for hygiene, but women need it for more specific reasons and in the Global South they do not even have a private place to wash up and take care or other personal needs. Based on the interview with Vandana Shiva, she believes that society and the environment are closely linked. People normally care more about their rights and their lives then they do about environmental degradation. However, Shiva is trying to explain that it is also directly affecting us.
There are quite a few similarities to the views that Hobgood-Oster have and the views that Agarwal have. Agarwal talks how women and nature are viewed as equal and they are below men. Men have been thought to have more power over nature, but also women. Hobgood also mentions this by explaining the typical social hierarchy and because men have this idea that they are above women it also puts them above nature. However, Hobgood explains his views by taking a more philosophical approach and it is not as apparent with the views that Agarwal has. Warren focused a lot on making connections between different ideas. The different connections helped to understand the different approaches that can be taken and the different ecofeminist views. Agarwal mentions environmental degradation and the effect that has on everyone. She even draws in some points that Shiva talked about and compares her views. She also explains the different factors that play into this environmental crisis that can be eye-opening. Population growth for example has become a major problem. The human population is growing the fastest while other species are becoming endangered or extinct. Environmental degradation is hurting all the species in some way.
I found Agarwal’s perspective more interesting. Environmental degradation has always been something I have been curious about. There are so many things that can factor into it and everything humans do, especially humans in first world countries contributes to environmental degradation. Like Vandana Shiva said the people in the third world countries are suffering the most, however it is the people in the first world countries who are causing most of these problems.
Hi Lindsey,
I appreciate your recognition of environmental degradation, and it’s negative consequences globally, but especially in the Global South. I find importance in hearing from Agarwal’s perspective because she talks about the direct impact that the degradation plays on these people living in impoverished communities, especially women. Having to switch up the methods of survival that they have been successfully using for hundreds upon hundreds of years to work around the aftermath of the consequences from greedy business decisions to cash in on whatever cheap industrial practice stripped the land of its resources is one the rawest forms of seeing the plight of women under oppression, and helps illustrate the ideas put forth about by western ecofeminism theories. Environmental degradation plays a disappointing enough role in our life here in Massachusetts, the roads and forest adjacent are commonly covered in litter, affecting the balance of the ecosystem. Now imagine losing all the privileges we enjoy and living directly off that land? Near impossible. We are hearing about even in the United States the newly constructed border wall damaging local habitats and disrupting mating patterns of local animals. The disregard for the lives and every other that is impacted by the walls construction illustrates how from the very top of our society we are willing to harm those who are not fairly represented, being justified by different priorities.
I can appreciate also the western ideology that attacks the ideas that have existing in society to cast women below men. We hear a lot about the plight of women in living in impoverished conditions and not too much about the men’s struggles when it comes to supporting the family and community as women have. This connects to your closing statement that first world countries cause problems for third world countries, the same can be applied to man and woman. The ecofeminism perspective incorporating the belief system behind sexism and the valuable insight into the struggle of impoverished communities dealing with economic degradation both create of a sense of appreciation for your own life and urgency to find justice for others.
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