The global south refers to areas of the developing world such as Africa and Latin America. These areas of the world have been linked to environmental degradation which is the deterioration of the environment through the depletion of resources. Throughout these areas the majority of women are responsible for gathering water resources for their families for all basic necessities such as cleaning, bathing, drinking, and eating (1). The types of water environmental degradation seen in these regions are limited water availability, over consumption of water, water contamination, and climate change (1). An inequality that I learned about that is absolutely heartbreaking is that there are women in these regions that miss out on getting an education because they are forced to travel miles to collect clean water. It makes you think about what we (USA) take for granted. We turn on our faucets and WAHLAA, hot fresh water. No one should struggle for basic access to clean water and more needs to be done so the voices of these women are heard.
A grassroots organization called Women For Water advocates for equal management and access to fresh water. They have many helpful projects at work. One of these projects works with school aged girls in Kenya to provide them with safe water, sanitation, and green energy. This project has been responsible for “building 48 toilets including bathrooms/washing areas, 24 rainwater harvesting tanks in 12 schools, distributing 350 solar lamps and 165 fireless cookers in 6 communities, next to organizing stakeholder meetings and capacity building/training” (2). All of these things lead to a better quality of life for these girls and gives them better opportunities. Check out the link below for more information on this project.
https://www.womenforwater.org/safe-water-sanitation-and-green-energy-for-school-girls-in-kenya.html
Comparing Western and Non-western Feminism
Bina Argarwal looks at women’s relationship with the environment from a non-western perspective. She states, “Nature is seen as inferior to culture; hence, women are seen as inferior to men” (3). This draws on previous readings and understandings of ecofeminism philosophy. Feminist environmentalism is a term she uses as a formulation to ecofeminism arguing that poor women in developing countries (India) are victims of environmental degradation in gender-specific ways and that both the symbolic and material links between people and their environment are interconnected (3). She finds the quality and quantities of natural resources are actively suffering from degradation and calls for reform to make access to resources for poor families, especially females more accessible. Grassroots ecology movements across India are workings to close the gap between gender inequality and environmental degradation. In instance, some women are getting involved by “actively and frequently protecting the trees, stopping tree auctions, and keeping vigil against illegal felling” (3). They even form “watchwomen” to protect their forests and started a replanting movement to bring back their trees. I gathered that women appear to acknowledge that environment cannot withstand exploitation for material components with a balance of protection.
Hobgood- Oster’s western ecofeminism perspective identifies that patriarchy and domination lead to the oppression against women and nature together. In order to combat this oppression, she suggests tearing down patriarchy and “dismantling it” (4). I totally agree with her but I feel like her perspective is less realistic at this current time. I think Argarwal’s perspective is more realistic because it starts at a grassroots level and builds. Both of them have great ideas but Argarwals offers more solutions to the problem while Hobgood-Oster focuses more on blaming.
Citations
(1) http://feministcampus.org/campaigns/women-and-climate/
(2) www.womenforwater.org
(3) The Gender and Environment Debate: Lessons From India, Agarwal, Bina
(4) Ecofeminism: Historic and International Development, Hobgood-Oster, Laura
Hi Holly,
I like how you included information about Women for Water — such an important organization!
I found it really interesting that, like Agarwal acknowledges in her outline of the main points of ecofeminist theory, that Western thought implies that because the poor, rural women in developing countries are the ones currently suffering the most from environmental degradation, women have a higher stake in ending environmental degradation. Like you commented on, women are forming grassroots groups and watch groups to protect their forests, which is amazing, but not enough. I felt like in Hobgood-Osters essay, she did so much blaming in a way that implied that women have to solve all of these problems that men caused. I disagree with this. I understand that, like the “watchwomen,” many of the people fighting against environmental degradation are women because they are most affected, but it shouldn’t be like that. I appreciated Agarwal’s inclusive and intersectional approach. It was more positive and active in including all people, races, genders, classes, cultures, et cetera in transforming the current systems of domination, oppression, and exploitation of women and nature.
Hi Holly,
I actually have a question! I feel like this issue can relate similarly to the conspiracy theory floating around in the U.S. about fluoride being placed in our water. Have you heard about this? Because water is so essential, and we don’t think twice about the chemicals we ingest because we assume our water is clean, this can go right over our heads. Those in third world countries do not have the luxury we do of being “blissfully unaware” because we have a sense of safety, assuming our water is pure. However, fluoride is a toxin, and it’s been shown that this chemical actually lowers IQ, and makes it so we are more submissive, as a form of population control and the government keeping us in a more controllable position. It may be a bit off tangent, but this week’s readings reminded me of hearing about that.
Thoughts?
Great post!
Rachel 🙂
Rachel,
I have heard about this. The goverement claims they do it to prevent tooth decay. I have a filter on my faucet to filter out anything thats in my water supply. Its scary…Who knows whats in the water.
https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/faqs/about-fluroride.html
Hi Holly,
By understanding the types of struggles faced by those who live in poverty-ridden countries such as the women you mention who have to travel miles to access clean water, we can fight for and work for equality everywhere as defined by the eco-feminist model. Your comparative between Western and Non-Western women is a break down that allows us to understand the negative perceptions placed on women, especially those living in developing nations. However, the exploitation of developing nations or Non-Western nations by Western nations is one we have to acknowledge in every aspect of our lives and cultural practices. It is important that we acknowledge our own personal contributions to the degradation of our global environment and the lives of women and people around the world. These women mentioned who don’t have access to clean water often don’t because rather than the nation they live in being able to grow its economy and make modern advances, they are being stolen from and having their natural resources ripped out from them with no economic gain. Our purchasing of out of season produce, fast fashion, material goods, and purposeless jewelry has attributed to the global abuses done to developing nations by the global West. The information presented in your post helps us as the reader to understand the complexity of the oppressive patriarchy and its role in the instability and struggle of the Global South. By knowing and applying an ecofeminist though theory to our everyday practices we can make small contributions greater and equality more and more likely. Until then, God bless anyone who has to walk miles for water while I sit here too lazy to walk to my fridge.
– Mirko Lopes
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