The Study of Ecofeminism and Its Localization

Liu Wenyuan

(Foreign Language Institute Tianjin Normal University,Tianjin 300387)



The Study of Ecofeminism and Its Localization

Liu Wenyuan

(Foreign Language Institute Tianjin Normal University,Tianjin 300387)

The paper firstly has an introduction of western ecofeminism coming into China and the present study of the theory in China.Literature review is followed in the second part,in which there are several points to be mentioned,such as the origin of feminism,the definition of ecofeminism,the theoretical foundation of ecofeminism,the categories of ecofeminism and its research in existence.In the third part,the paper aims at the research of localization in China by data statistics method based on ten-year works and papers (2006-2015) searched from CNKI.In the final part,the present study situation of ecofeminism is present and some issues are pointed out based on the data analysis.A series of problems will be extracted for the further thinking and discussion related to the localization of ecofeminism at the end of the passage.

feminism;ecofeminist;localization;data statistics

Ⅰ.Literature review

1.The definition of ecofeminism

So what is ecofeminism? Ecofeminists interprets it in terms of the repression and exploitation of the environment.There are particular and significant connections between women and the nature.Ecofeminists believe that these connections are illustrated through traditionally “feminine” values such as reciprocity,nurturing and cooperation,which are present both among women and in the nature.Women and the nature are also united through their shared history of oppression by a patriarchal society.There are four sides of the frame as follows:the mechanistic materialism model of the universe that results from the scientific revolution and the subsequent reduction of all things into mere resources to be optimized,dead inert matter to be used;the rise of patriarchal religions and their establishment of gender hierarchies along with their denial of immanent divinity;self and other dualisms and the inherent power and domination ethic that it entails;and capitalism and its intrinsic need for the exploitation,destruction and instrumentalization of animals,earth and people for the sole purpose of creating wealth.〔1〕

2.The categories of ecofeminism

There are several schools of ecofeminism.And different schools related to ecofeminism hold different opinions,but they have the similarities through the analysis of the connection between women and the nature.

(1)The ecofeminism of the nature

Some ecofeminists in this category think that the nature and women are closely connected.The traditional women should be cultivated to be less aggressive and more sustainable development.Women should go back to a complete spiritual world,putting material and mind together totally.Qualities such as passivity,weakness and irrationality can be educational to note their own feelings.Some theorists suggest that the degrading of men be driven by fear of the nature and mortality.Because of their biological connection with birth,women are a constant reminder of death.〔2〕

(2) The ecofeminism of spirituality

The spirituality ecofeminists admit that the nature and women are closely connected,which is not based on the duality.Women believe in some spiritual paths and religions with a strong environmental element.This common ground held by both modern and ancient traditions across the world suggests that women reveal some central human intuition.This notion is supported by archaeological evidence that spirituality is originally earth-based and centered on our experience of an oneness with the nature,such as immanence,interconnection and compassionate lifestyle.It is arguable that the exoteric forms of religions differ widely,they are all similar on an esoteric level.It refers to an existing ideology generally being formulated for mass appeal and providing a simplified version of the inner truth.Spirituality is a core element of ecofeminism.Most religions are considered to be patriarchal and often exemplify the way that humankind aims to transcend the nature through the realm of culture.

(3) The ecofeminism of society

Ecofeminists in this school advocate to weaken the relationship between female and the nature constructed by the society so as not to reinforce women as a natural subjection.They ignore the other species and the value of the earth.They fight against the idea of binary opposition,ending the oppression of belittling women.Vandana Shiva (1988)〔3〕claims that women have a special connection to the environment through their daily interactions,and the connection has been ignored.These alternative modes of knowing are oriented to the social benefits,and subtenant needs are not recognized,because it fails to perceive the interconnectedness of the nature,the connection of women’s lives,work and knowledge with the creation of wealth.Feminist and social ecologist Janet Biehl (1991)〔4〕criticizes ecofeminism for focusing too much on a mystical connection between women and the nature and not enough on the actual conditions of women.

Ⅱ.The research of localization in China

Chinese scholars began to translate and introduce large-scale works of western ecofeminism in the 1980s.They gradually put an emphasis on from one-way theoretical introduction to the reflection of the theory itself at the turning this century.One of the most important changes is to concern the localization of the western Theory in China,which is also a hot topic for the researchers.In order to confirm the degree of localization in China,the study is made in this paper based on the ten-year works and papers issued on the CNKI relating ecofeminism.In this paper,statistical method is used for data collection and analysis for online data retrieval from 2006 to 2015.It has mainly two steps,first,to collect the feminism works and papers published during the past ten years on the CNKI in Tianjin Normal University Library;second,to collect the ecofeminism works and papers published during the ten years on the CNKI in the university.In addition,the data will be carried out by statistics.The auxiliary method used in this paper is as follows.

When the keywords of “feminism” and “ecology” are searched,there are some works issued from 2006 to 2015 related to the topic.The data are as follows:

From the set of data,the total amount of nearly ten-year feminism works is not pretty much,they are even less during 2009-2012;while the amount of works increases from 2013 to 2015,and Chinese researchers are involved in more than 50% of them.On the other hand,retrieved from the keyword of “ecofeminism”,the results are not so optimistic,only three works published during these ten years,one of which is written by Chinese author,the other two foreign authors.Thus,the data analysis indicates that the research of feminism and ecofeminist is sparse during these years (2006-2015).

As for the papers (including graduates’ theses),1570 items are gotten after the retrieval of “feminism” and “ecology” from 2006 to 2015 on CNKI.Compared with the works,the papers on feminism are fruitful.Furthermore,the retrieval of “ecofeminism” and “Chinese” contains 1551 items,the statistical results are as follows:

From the data above,the total amount of papers on feminism in these ten years is relatively much,and it has increased steadily since 2009,which indicates that the Chinese scholars made more and more research on ecofeminism.But the papers on Chinese ecofeminism are relatively less,although there are some,pretty scanty.Most of the papers focus on review of foreign feminism theory,review of foreign works,and the adoption of ecofeminism in Chinese theses or comments is rare.According to the analysis,the research on the ecological feminism theory is still in its infant stage in China — the stage of theoretical introduction instead of the stage of reflection or the stage of self-theoretical formation.From the perspective of themes in the papers,Chinese scholars have already begun to try to use the theory to analyze some Chinese works and the research into the actual issues concerning environment,which implies that Chinese scholars are concerned more about putting the theory into practice and localizing ecofeminism theory,although the research is not far enough,it is truly a little step.For the study,that has begun to study theory of localization,but the amount is not large,it just starts.Therefore,the research of ecofeminism is inadequate in China from the amount of works and papers,not to mention the localization of the ecofeminism theory.

Ⅲ.Further analysis and discussion

According to the analysis above,the study of ecofeminism in China during these ten years mainly has the following problems:

1.The study of ecofeminism is still at the stage of introduction in China instead of the stage of theoretical reflection or the stage of self-theoretical formation.Most works and papers including some reviews just repeat contents of the foreign ecological feminism theory.What is the reason? Firstly,China’s female consciousness came into being later than that in western countries which leads to Chinese scholars’ little concern about Chinese feminism,which resists the formation of its theoretical localization.Up till the mid of 1990s,the feminism theory began to be introduced to China lasting only more than 20 years.So it will take Chinese scholars more time to study the theory and make it localized.

2.Western culture is totally different Chinese.Chinese scholars are over-reliant on the western theories.Their papers are of western characteristics without Chinese local features,so it is impossible for Chinese scholars to form their own theoretical system if they just repeat the words of others like a parrot.It is obvious that Western feminism theory has gained mature development based on the theories of spiritual analysis,phenomenology with multicultures,which has achieved remarkable results.Chinese scholars can take the theory for reference and emphasize its localization combining with Chinese traditional culture,such as dualism compared with Chinese holistic view in China traditional culture concepts,namely,man and the nature should be harmonious in ancient China.In addition,Chinese scholars can adopt the theory to write some Chinese-style novels,grasping the profound meaning of the theory instead of keeping introducing it.The localization and formation of Chinese feminism theoretical system are very important.〔5〕

3.There is lack of the combination of theory and practice,study of Chinese women’s rights and various elements of patriarchy and ecological environment.To understand the theory of ecofeminism,Chinese scholars need to study the relationship between feminism and other specific multiple aspects,such as psychology,history,culture,politics,economy,the nature and so on understanding human behaviors based on the theory and revealing the truth of human nature according to their thinking,social power,ideology and other aspects to reflect the social,political and racial issues and finally to find out the solutions to these problems from the perspectives of both feminism and local culture.〔6〕

4.There is no any construction of native feminism theory.It has been a history of man and woman fighting with the nature since the beginning of human beings.Wherever the east or the west it is,woman is often compared with the nature or the earth,or even regarded as the universe itself who,as a female,can bear life.Human is full of life like plants inheriting from the mother and then returns to the mother after death,which is the recycle of the nature.Women’s development history is not only a history of their struggling against the nature but also a history of ideology development history,in which women and the nature are exploited by the society controlled by patriarchal domination.Women attempt to relieve from the dominant relationship for the pursuit of sustainable coexistence of man,woman and the nature.As is known,China has a long history and is full of rich culture.Chinese women play an important role in their historical development.Therefore,the establishment of Chinese feminism is necessary.The scholars study in depth Chinese women’s thoughts,social roles and living conditions and so on.The history of Chinese feminism as a scientific theory should be studied thoroughly rooted in Chinese deep culture.〔7〕

In short,there is a practical significance of the research of feminism and ecofeminism,which can solve some social problems.For example,does housework have any economic value? Why are so many housewives inferior to their husbands in their families? Why is it women who do housework at home,while their husbands not？Why do women have to bear the dual burden of both employment and housework? Why do women have the subordinate status in our society,inferior to men in many aspects,such as in politics,economy and other circles? Is it the oppression of patriarchy that is imposed on women by the society? So to liberate Chinese women and construct a more harmonious society,the scholars should study more relations between human & society and human & the nature to establish Chinese feminism and ecofeminism theoretical theories in China.

〔1〕Zhang Jie,Reflection and Transcendence:Contemporary Feminist Literature Review,Journal of Shanxi Provincial Party School,December,2011(34:06).

〔2〕〔5〕Yu Sha,An Analysis of the Localization of Chinese Feminism Possibility and limit,Journal of Hunan Institute of Humanities and Science,2012,08(4).

〔3〕Vandana Shiva,Staying alive:women,ecology and development,London:Zed Books,1988(1),pp.12-17.

〔4〕Janet Biehl,Rethinking eco-feminist politics,South End Press:Boston,Massachusetts,1991(2),pp.38.

〔6〕Wang Xiaodong,Ecofeminism in the Post-modern Context Hebei Normal University,2011,p.65.

〔7〕Wei Qingqi,Ecofeminism in China,Journal of Jiangsu University (Social Science Edition),2006(02).

About the author：Chen Baocui,professor of University of Science and Technology Liaoning,mainly engaged in the studies of English teaching and intercultural communication.

〔*〕Phased research result of “Research and Practice of College English Curriculum Reform under the Training Model of Diversified Talents”,Year 2014 research project of undergraduate teaching reform of higher education in Liaoning Province,Liaoning Provincial Department of Education (Liao Jiao Fa (2014) No.123).