Article in the Journal of Academic Social Sciences · September 020 doi: 10. 29228/jasss. 45458 citations reads 4,242 author: Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects

The Journal of Academic Social Science Studies 
Year: 13 - Number: 81 , p. 705-714, Autumn 2020 
 
 
Ekofeminizme Genel Bir Bakış: Kadınlar, Doğa ve Hiyerarşiler 
 
Yıldız Merve Öztürk 
Kyrgyzstan Turkey Manas University, Institute of Social Sciences, English Language and Literature, 
Thesis Master Student, Bishkek – KYRGYZTAN 
 
Artcile History 
Abstract
Submitted: 23.07.2020 
Accepted: 08.09.2020 
Published Online: 30.09.2020 
Ecofeminism is an interdisciplinary critical theory which claims that environmental 
and women's issues are interconnected because of the objectification of women and 
nature in a male-dominant society. According to this theory, the system forms a 
male-centred hierarchy and dualities, creating inequality in society and providing the 
superiority for men. On the other hand, the hierarchy and dualities are used to exert 
pressure on non-male beings and marginalize them. Thus, in the male-dominant 
hierarchical order dualities such as male/female, culture/nature, human/nature, 
white/black, unconscious/unconscious, logic/emotion, soul/body occur, and former 
dominates the latter. That is, in this order, man is superior to woman, culture is 
superior to nature, and logic is to emotion. Also, since the man is considered superior 
to the woman, all the superior features are attributed to the male and the inferior 
features are associated with the female. In this way, while man symbolizes culture, 
consciousness, logic and spirit, woman represents nature, unconsciousness, emotion 
and body. In this case, women and nature become close to each other in a male-
dominant society and are similarly conceptualized. The main factor causing this 
bond is the ability of both nature and women to reproduce and create. For example, 
while women bring humans into the world, nature ensures the continuity of life on 
earth with natural resources. Another factor is that both of them have a passive role 
in society and are dependent. Women are pushed to live a domestic life and become 
passive due to their fertility. Women who cannot achieve their economic freedom 
become dependent on men. On the other hand, nature is not an active being 
intrinsically. Since nature cannot move and speak, it has a position that is dependent 
on humans. The bond between woman and nature naturalizes the fertility of women 
and feminizes the fruitfulness of nature. For example, the fact that the woman is 
closer to nature ensures that her reproducibility is perceived as a natural condition, 
and motherhood is portrayed as the woman's most natural duty. Besides, it is natural 
for women to be domestic because of their biological structure. Thus, the fact that 
women cannot acquire social identity and depend on men is normalied, and women 
exist as objects in society. On the other hand, nature stands out in the male-centred 
system with its productivity and generosity, just like a mother. Nature serves the 
patriarchal system with its renewable resources. Thus, the system perceives nature as 
an object that provides abundance, infinite resources and power. As a result, both 
women and nature are objectified and exploited in the masculine-dominated society. 
The system puts forward women's closeness with nature to exclude them from 
society. This study sheds light on how the male-centred hierarchy and dualities crush 
non-male beings while glorifying men; explains why nature and women are 
perceived closer to each other. The study also shows that this link by marginalizing 
them conceptualizes women and nature closely. Then in the study, the hierarchy of 
men/women, culture/nature and human/nature is exemplified by mentioning the 
narrative of Adam and Eve, and in this narrative, oppressive attitude towards 
women and nature is revealed. As a result, the study provides a broad perspective on 
ecofeminist theory, which advocates that environmental and women's issues are 
interrelated as they are treated the same in the male-centred society. 
Key Words 
Ecofeminism 
Woman 
Nature 
Androcentrism 
Social Hierarchy

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