Women in Criminal Justice

Florida Atlantic University

Ecological Feminism

Juan Hoyos

Women and Criminal Justice Course - CCJ4670

Professor Aggie A. Pappas, M.S.W.

March 24, 2015

Ecological Feminism

        Ecological feminism has always tried to create a community that is respectful and loving. On the other hand, it is capable of offering equality for men and women, even though there are differences in all human beings. Ecological feminism interests me because this movement or term has always existed and will continue to appear. It is based on women who dislike or refuse male dictatorship and they will do whatever it takes in order to be successful in the community. As Professor Embree said, “Is it possible that the experience of women can provide insight into moral life”? This said, I based my opinion on the resistance that has always existed for women and how it has contributed to society and the whole criminal justice system.

        Ecological feminism defines a society where women are free to live without oppression. It involves the construction of an ecological society, decentralized, non-hierarchical and non-militarized. Also, the woman’s mind, must have an internal democracy that establishes the use of more technologies for the environment and many more things. In other words, for a perfect community. Currently, various movements have been created and which are still being led by women in search of social justice. For example, on 1864, the first women’s rights convention was held which created the women suffrage. The women suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. Given the fact that women are the most affected by environmental and social problems, some feminists try reporting it and establish ties or alliances.

        Ecological feminism states that there are important connections between the domination and exploitation of women and nature, although this relationship is interpreted differently. It is also said that ecological feminism reports that patriarchy is established between women and nature. This argues that the biology of women, for example her body, makes them in a higher position closer to nature, allowing their identification to bloom. The men, led by reason, belong to the world of culture. For its ability to control and transform nature, culture is considered superior to nature. The superiority of culture over nature in patriarchy explains that women are considered inferior to men. In another hand, ecological feminism considers the domination of women and the domination of nature. And both have a common origin, which places women in a position to end such domination. Finally, ecological feminism suggests that the feminist movement and the environment movement have common goals; for example, equal rights and abolition of hierarchies.

         The first connections between feminism and ecology that gave rise to ecological feminism are in literary utopias in the seventies. This initial feminism has evolved leading to different trends, all concerned and interested in the changing relationships between people and the environment. Each feminist maintains analysis and action strategies according to different feminist positions. Ecofeminists or ecological feminists that defend the current patriotic environmental reforms base their believe on a better application of modern science. Yet, it is accompanied by legislation to ensure the necessary conditions for sustainable ecological development. Women should gain power through equal opportunities, participating in all decisions among which are the management of natural resources, the preservation of a healthy environment and protecting the quality of life. As said in the article Feminist Criminology, “two recent milestone events remind us of just how powerful an influence feminists have had in criminology during the past three decades”. In 2004, it marked the 20th anniversary of the Division on Women and Crime and second, the official publication of the Division on Women and Crime, that serves as a testament to the demand that exists for feminist criminological scholarship. Together, these two important events provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on what is going to come for feminist criminology.

        In addition to those current events, we can trace back to historic events that has helped women in society and in the criminal justice field. Known as the first wave of feminism, the right to vote for women started in the mid-1800s. During that time period, a declaration was passed to help women with reforms in marriage, divorce, property and child custody laws. Other 2 waves of feminism were passed and they helped evolve women in the civil rights movement, and they helped gained access to equal economic opportunities, sexual freedom and civil liberties.