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Eco-Feminism is a philosophical movement that views environmental destruction and the oppression of women as stemming from the same structures of domination. This article explores the meaning, types, and specific examples of Eco-Feminism.

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The Myth of Mago Halmi and Eco-Feminism

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(Source: Namu Wiki)

Many myths highlight the connection between nature and the power of women. The Korean myth of Mago Halmi is one such example.

"Long ago, there was a grandmother with immense power who lived on this land. Her name was Mago Halmi. With her hands, she scooped the sea to create rivers, and with each step she took, mountains rose. But she was not merely a creator. Mago Halmi wished for humans and nature to coexist in harmony."

The story of Mago Halmi aligns with the philosophy of Eco-Feminism.

✅ Creation and Vitality: Mago Halmi regarded nature not as a mere resource but as a living, breathing entity. This resonates with the core ideas of Spiritual Eco-Feminism.

✅ Solidarity between Women and Nature: Her story portrays women and nature as interconnected, emphasizing the role of women as protectors. This aligns with Cultural Eco-Feminism.

Isn’t it fascinating that even in ancient myths, the connection between nature and the power of women was recognized?

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The Earth and the Voice of Women

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Imagine the Earth as a wise grandmother. She nurtures all living beings, but at times, she is wounded by human greed and neglect.

Women share a similar plight. Historically, both women and nature have been subjects of exploitation. Eco-Feminism highlights the deep connection between these oppressions.

The climate crisis affects everyone, but its burden weighs heavier on women.

Women walk miles daily to fetch drinking water. Women worry about their livelihoods as droughts destroy their fields. Women lose their homes to floods and droughts but have no say in where they will go next.

This is not just an environmental issue.

 Climate change is an issue of inequality.

So, what can we do about it?

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Q. What is Eco-Feminism?

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A. Eco-Feminism is the recognition that women and nature have been exploited in similar ways and that breaking this cycle of oppression is crucial.

French feminist Françoise d’Eaubonne first coined the term Eco-Feminism in the 1970s. Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva later expanded on the concept.

She stated: 

“Eco-Feminism begins with the realization that women and nature are exploited within the same structures of oppression. 

It is a movement that resists this and seeks to create a sustainable society.”

In other words, gender equality and environmental issues are not separate but deeply intertwined.

Thus, they must be addressed together.

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Principles of Eco-Feminism

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According to Eco-Feminism, a book by Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva, the key principles of Eco-Feminism include:

1. Interconnectedness: Recognizing the deep connections between humanity, nature, and social issues.

2. Aiming for Equitable Relationships: Rejecting existing hierarchies where humans dominate nature and men dominate women, striving instead for balanced relationships.

3. Sustainability and Ethical Living: Advocating for a sustainable way of life in harmony with nature.

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Feminism vs Eco-Feminism?

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Both Feminism and Eco-Feminism seek gender equality, but they differ in focus and approach.

Simply put, while Feminism argues that “women and men should have equal rights,” Eco-Feminism asserts that “women and nature are oppressed in similar ways, and solving climate crises requires considering gender equality.”

For example, Feminism pushes for policies like gender quotas to increase women’s political participation. Eco-Feminism ensures that women in climate-affected regions can participate in environmental policymaking.

Feminism VS Eco-Feminism

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Types of Eco-Feminism and Examples

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According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Eco-Feminism can be categorized as follows:

1. Cultural Eco-Feminism: 

Emphasizes the similarities between women and nature, arguing that women have a deeper connection with the natural world.

✅ Example: Chipko Movement (1973–1980s)

In 1970s India, women hugged trees to prevent deforestation, viewing nature as the lifeline of their community. 

This movement led to a 15-year ban on logging by the Indian government.

(Source: SUGi)

2. Social Eco-Feminism:

Analyzes environmental issues as interconnected with class, economic, and power structures, rather than solely gender issues.

✅ Example: Green Belt Movement (1977–Present) 

Led by Wangari Maathai, this movement empowered women to plant trees,

 promoting both environmental conservation and economic independence. To date, it has planted around 50 million trees.

(Source: The Goldman Environmental Prize)

3. Spiritual Eco-Feminism: 

Views nature as sacred and emphasizes a spiritual connection between women and the environment.

✅ Example: Berta Cáceres and the Lenca Community (2015) 

Honduran indigenous environmental activist Berta Cáceres and the Lenca people resisted corporate efforts to build dams on indigenous lands,

 based on their philosophy of nature as a sacred being.

(Source: Cultural Survival)

(Source: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2020)

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Climate Change Hits Women Harder

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(Source:  The World Economic Forum)

1. Worsening Climate Change

Women are at the forefront of environmental protection, yet they are often excluded from policy-making processes.

This is why climate crisis response policies that exclude women fail to provide realistic solutions.

2. Unequal Distribution of Natural Resources

When water becomes scarce, who has to travel the farthest to fetch it? Women and girls.

As climate change leads to shortages of water and food, women struggle even more to sustain their livelihoods.

3. Rising Number of Environmental Refugees

More and more people are losing their homes and being displaced due to climate change.

Did you know that a large proportion of these environmental refugees are women and children?

Without adequate social protection, women are more vulnerable to exploitation and often lack the freedom to make choices for their survival.

So, what is the solution?

Women must be at the center of environmental problem-solving.

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Women: The Key to Solving the Climate Crisis

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According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2022 report, better outcomes emerge when women actively participate in environmental policymaking. This highlights the critical role of women's leadership in solving environmental issues.

When we think about it, women have always lived closest to nature.

Agriculture, water collection, and community sustenance—these essential activities are deeply connected to nature, and women have been at their core.

However, in decision-making spaces where environmental policies are formed, women's voices are often missing. This is why policies that exclude women struggle to offer realistic solutions.

Ultimately, the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue.

It is a human rights issue. It is a gender equality issue.

So, we must ask:

Can we truly tackle the climate crisis without the voices of women?

For centuries, we have recognized the power of women living in harmony with nature. Mago Halmi was not just a deity who created the world—she taught that humanity must coexist with nature. Today, her message resonates once again through ecofeminism.

The answer to the climate crisis is clear.

Women must be at the center of climate crisis solutions.

More women need to shape environmental policies, and more women must be empowered to raise their voices for a sustainable future.

"When we protect the environment, we protect women and future generations."

- Wangari Maathai -

Written by Sharon Choi

Director of Planning

Sunhak Peace Prize Secretariat