Ecofeminism and Just Leisure in the 21 st Century Karla A. Henderson May, 18, 2012 Salt Lake City, Utah

My Journey to Ecofeminism • Equal Rights • Learning from Grad Students • Radical Feminism • Interests in Outdoors and Feminism

Purpose of Paper • “Spaces and places integral to instituting a more just world” • • • • Strengths and weaknesses of ecofeminisms Possibilities for knowing more about leisure Connecting social and environmental justice through “gender justice” Questions for further discussion

Ecofeminisms Defined • • • • An ecophilosophy Connects humans and nature Philosophical, spiritual, theoretical, critical, practical Premise that the oppression/domination of women connected to/with the oppression/domination of the earth

Patriarchy Dualisms • Male/Female • Nature/Nurture

Inadequacies

Feminism not addressing Environment Environmentalists not addressing Women’s Issues

All acts should focus on respect for, and the diversity of, humans and the life enhance of natural environments UNITING WOMEN AND EARTH

Just Leisure • • Social Justice – a society where the distribution of resources is equitable and all members are psychologically and physically safe and secure Environmental Justice – fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people related to the development and enforcement of laws, regulations, and policies regarding the environment

Power and Privilege

Inclusivity Denying differences denies differences in power and resources

Critiques of Ecofeminism • • • • Idealistic Essentialist Scapegoating Men Too much focus on women’s nurturance

Question

Would a nonsexist society imply an ecologically benign society?

Incorporating Feminisms • • • • • Connection between social and environmental justice Awareness of ideas/raise consciousness Way to examine language Lens to examine policies Potential elitism of outdoors

Possibilities in Leisure Fields • • • Doing the right thing Socially and environmentally responsible leisure Questions domination of anyone/anything

QUESTIONS?

COMMENTS?