In 1974, French feminist Françoise d'Eaubonne introduced the term ecofeminism into mainstream culture in her book, Le Féminisme ou la Mort, wherein she faults the culture of masculinity for the excessive environmental degradation. It is a blend of the words ecology and feminism, and is an integral part of both the women's rights movement as well as the climate action movement. As a consequence of patriarchy, capitalism and white supremacy, ecofeminism is considered the intersection between the oppression of women and the destruction of nature. The relationship between women and the environment has been stereotyped through shared attributes; both are depicted as being chaotic and irrational in the face of hierarchical and oppositional thinking. Women's role in managing natural resources and their profound traditional and contemporary knowledge of the natural world, has always been deemed essential with regard to ecological concerns. Nature is also traditionally characterized as a feminine concept due to commonly used phrases such as Mother Nature and fertile soil.
Initially, ecofeminism was considered a philosophical theory as it draws on varying theories and concepts. Per ecofeminist scholar Karren Warren, the philosophy behind ecofeminism explores the nature of the connections between the unjustified dominations of women and nature while critiquing male-biased Western canonical philosophical views about women and nature. It also enables the formulation of alternatives and solutions to such male-based views. Ecofeminist philosophers also emphasize that due to their lack of sentience and cognitive capacity, nature cannot be oppressed in the same way women are and therefore are often dominated by capitalist ideals.
It was later on that ecofeminism was recognized as a social movement, amidst a background of various other prominent movements including anti-war and anti-nuclear stances. The connection between women and the environment ignited in the early 1960s when it was identified that historically, women have always been central figures in protesting against environmental issues and have been at the forefront of such movements. It reached a point of globalization when the Chipko Movement was launched in 1973 in India, when a group of indigenous women rallied together to protest the rapid deforestation that was taking place in the Himalayas as their livelihoods depended on those forests. The movement was non-violent in nature and became a rallying point for future international green movements due to their peaceful demonstrations and attempts for ecological awareness. Not only was the Chipko Movement utilized in increasing social consciousness about the environment and addressing the need to preserve natural habitats, but it also brought focus on the issues of indigenous and marginalized groups within the country. Similarly, the Green Belt Movement in 1977 Kenya was also identified as a prominent ecofeminist movement due to their efforts in reforestation and environmental conservation while working towards female independence.
Despite critiques, the relations between climate crisis and gender are acknowledged on a global scale. Around the world, most agricultural processes and domestic food production are headed by womenfolk despite the land being owned by men. With the increasing threat of the climate crisis and the growing exploitation of gender disparities, women are left more vulnerable in the face of the environmental decline. Climate change constrains women's already restricted access to physical, social, political, and fiscal resources, thus burdening women more than men. Women are not only faced with the looming possibility of unemployment and financial instability, but they are also subjected to further magnification of existing gender inequalities.
By not being able to recognize the intersections between climate and such social issues are damaging in finding potential solutions for either one of these challenges. The elevation of women through social initiatives has been presented as having a direct impact on the environment and sustainable development. Women with greater access to education and effective healthcare facilities are more likely to be aware of issues surrounding gender and reproduction, thereby being able to reduce global fertility rates. This causes a domino effect as population growth slows along with consumption, thus resulting in the reduction of industrial processes and emissions. Though the accompaniment of population growth with the economy of emerging nations is a natural occurrence, it would lead to a greater carbon footprint and a higher negative impact on the environment. To mitigate this, it is essential to pursue social initiatives that promise equal access to education and healthcare, regardless of gender.
Nonetheless, the climate crisis cannot only be managed by elevating and empowering women to achieve opportunities for basic facilities. As figures at the forefront of prominent ecofeminist movements, women should have their voices heard at all levels and be allowed to actively participate in environmental policymaking. At present, men significantly outweigh women in global environmental policymaking and combined with the lack of leadership positions granted to women in local communities, women hold only 12% of top national ministerial positions in environmental sectors worldwide. With the necessary female representation, it is suggested that there is a higher chance of prioritizing ecological issues as well as increased effectiveness in environmental policy outcomes.
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