In recent decades, many people active in the environmentalist and feminist movements have joined forces in support of what they see as a common cause.  This movement is known as ecological feminism, or ecofeminism, to use the term of Francoise d'Eaubonne.

Rosemary Radford Ruether wrote in New Woman/New Earth in 1975 that women "must unite the demands of the women's movement with those of the ecological movements to envision a radical reshaping of the basic socioeconomic relations and the underlying values of this society."  She helped to begin what has become an important philosophy.

There are a variety of forms of ecofeminism.  Different factions have emerged out of disagreement over the environment, and out of the different types of feminism.

However, the different groups are united in some of their basic goals.  They all look at what causes oppression of women and the environment, and seek to prevent it. 

The ecofeminists feel that men dominate women and humans dominate nature.  Naturally, then, women and the environmentalists should be united in their struggle.

There are many critics of ecofeminism.  Some people say that any connection between women and nature equally holds for men, and that man's connection to the environment is as natural as woman's.  Others say that all forms of oppression cannot simply be related by their nature, and some even contend that ecofeminism further oppresses women.

Feminists have inspired other environmental movements as well.  Animal rights, social ecology, bioregionalism, and other movements have come from feminist efforts.  Today, the ecofeminists believe that major changes need to be made in our modern society.

Different types of Ecofeminism

Ecofeminism on the web

Ecofeminism Web resources

Ecofeminism Web Ring