Studing Ecofeminism in the works of Indian Women Writers

Abstract

As a subset of feminism, ecofeminism arose during the third wave of the movement. It acknowledges that women in male-dominated societies are oppressed and that the degradation and exploitation of natural resources go hand in hand. An intersectional lens that takes into account the links between gender, racism, class, nationhood, and ecology allowed ecofeminism to flourish within the area of science and development. More than one environmental activist and environmental thinker in India was a woman. Renowned ecofeminists including Anita Desai, Vrinda Kart, Arundhati Roy, Kamala Markandaya, and Bina Agarwal have done much to advance causes that value both women and the environment. In contrast to males, who are generally portrayed as logical, practical, self-reliant, and capable of manipulating nature and women to suit his own ends, women and nature are often portrayed as chaotic, illogical, sensitive, and weak. Using examples from activism and literature that prominently features women, this study outlines ecofeminism in the works of Indian authors. More and more, works written by Indian women, particularly those published in the 20th century and later, are being recognized as potent vehicles of modernism and feminism. Among Indian women writers, there has been a recent upsurge in discussions on globalization and its effects on the environment, family dynamics, and the next generation. We see that science and development are both patriarchal and colonial-rooted hegemonic social regimes. They complement one another by transferring information and resources from the South to the North and by imposing masculine scientific and practical expertise on the South.