By Kaelan Leslie

Introduction:

Imagine a world where caring for the land means caring for people, where the health of farms and natural resources is inseparable from the wellbeing of citizens in our legal system. This vision lies at the heart of ecofeminism, which connects environmental stewardship with values of community and equality. In Saskatchewan, where agriculture and extractive industries shape daily interactions, the land is more than a resource, it’s a way of life. Ecofeminism offers a way to understand how in this way of life, protecting our environment through law can also support resilient, thriving communities.

Ecofeminism is a theory that links ecological issues with feminist insights, highlighting how the exploitation of nature often parallels the marginalization of certain identity groups. It’s based on the idea that systems of domination, those harming the environment or perpetuating inequality, are overlapping. As climate and biodiversity fluctuations and social inequality increasingly impact people’s lives, ecofeminism offers solutions that address these overlapping challenges in ways that benefit everyone, not just women. Even if ecofeminism is new to you, its ideas open new pathways for thinking how law can address social and ecological issues together. Being informed on ecofeminist ideas can help us promote environmental justice, protect vulnerable communities, and balance our roles as stewards of nature. By considering ecofeminist perspectives, we are actively planting the seeds for more equitable and sustainable legal outcomes.

Understanding Ecofeminism: What It Is and Its Roots

Emerging from the feminist, peace, and anti-nuclear movements of the 1970s and 1980s, ecofeminism began as a theoretical framework aiming to link environmental ecology with second wave feminism, highlighting the shared roots of nature’s exploitation and women’s oppression.^[1] It argued that understanding the connection between “exploitation and degradation of the natural world” and the “subordination and oppression of women” fosters improved empathy, interconnectedness, and respect for nature.^[2] 

Modern ecofeminism has evolved to challenge exploitative systems that harm ecosystems, gendered individuals, and marginalized communities. Its scope now extends “beyond women alone” by “integrat[ing] race, class, nation, sexualit[y], ecosystems, and global location” to promote a balanced relationship between humanity and the natural world.^[3] By emphasizing intersectionality, ecofeminism reframes traditional environmentalism, considering social contexts and amplifying the voices and lived experiences of those uniquely affected by ecological harm.^[4]

Ecofeminism in Provincial and Federal Law

Existing legal frameworks often address environmental issues in a narrow, disconnected manner, without fully acknowledging how ecological degradation exacerbates social inequalities, resulting in laws or policies that can neglect the ways in which environmental harm disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. By integrating ecofeminism into law, a pathway can be created to directly address the social injustices that are deeply intertwined with environmental challenges, offering a more comprehensive approach to combating the heightened vulnerability of marginalized populations. In Canadian law, ecofeminism can help us recognize the connections between ecological harm and systems of oppression, such as colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism. It encourages addressing environmental degradation alongside social inequalities to promote justice for both the environment and marginalized communities. Such perspective could be better implemented by diversifying voices in conservation and environmental law, ensuring greater representation, education, and training for legal practitioners on the intersections of ecological and social justice.

Provincially, an exciting development in Saskatchewan is the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation’s establishment of the Annual Advancing Women in Conservation (AWIC) Summit in 2022, aiming to “support the advancement of women into leadership roles,” “foster a culture of respect for women working in these roles,” and “empower and develop women as leaders” within all fields of conservation, including government and law.^[5] Such an initiative highlights how ecofeminism's principles can be woven into both national and provincial efforts, fostering a legal and cultural framework that addresses ecological and social injustices while empowering diverse voices to lead the way in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future.

Federally, the integration of the Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in environmental law and regulation reflects ecofeminist ideals by recognizing how environmental policies impact diverse groups differently, addressing intersections of sex and gender with other identity factors. The GBA+ is an analytical tool applied throughout the development and implementation of initiatives to ensure they are responsive, inclusive, and tailored to meet the diverse needs of those impacted, while also addressing potential barriers to access or benefit based on diverse factors such as gender, race, and socioeconomic status.^[6] It was used throughout the Federal governments Impact Assessment Act (2019),^[7] which requires federal environmental assessments to consider the social, economic, and health effects of projects, including their impacts on Indigenous women, marginalized groups, and other vulnerable populations.^[8] By using GBA+, the Act ensured that decision-making accounted for how different communities are uniquely affected by environmental projects, fostering more equitable and inclusive outcomes, an approach aligning with ecofeminism’s emphasis on linking ecological sustainability with social justice and equity.

Challenges and Looking to the Ecofeminist Future

While ecofeminism can be seen to influence Canadian law developments, it still faces challenges and criticisms. One major critique is that ecofeminism “perpetuate[s] old stereotypes” about women’s inherent connection with nature, a notion that critics argue is overly simplistic as it overlooks diverse individual experiences and perspectives particularly those of other marginalized communities.^[9] Furthermore, integrating ecofeminist ideas into legal systems is also difficult in societies dominated by patriarchal and capitalist structures, as ecofeminist frameworks often clash with profit-driven priorities and laws favoring corporate interests. Moreover, ecofeminism’s holistic approach, which links environmental and social justice, can be challenging to apply in fragmented legal systems that treat these issues separately. Despite these criticisms, however, ecofeminism remains a tool for an informed reading of the law, offering a valuable perspective to support legal developments that more effectively address both ecological and social justice in a unified, sustainable manner.

The future of ecofeminism in Saskatchewan and across Canada holds immense potential to inspire more inclusive and sustainable legal frameworks that unite environmental and social justice. Embracing ecofeminist knowledge allows us to recognize its influence on legal developments and incorporate its principles into discussions on sustainability and resource management. By reimagining the land as a partner rather than merely a resource, ecofeminism fosters environmental health while championing the well-being of future generations. This approach strengthens community connections and reshapes the values underpinning our relationship with the land, nurturing the growth of a more equitable and sustainable future.

Citations/Read More

“Advancing Women in Conservation Summit.” Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, December 20, 2017. https://swf.sk.ca/awic/#:~:text=AWIC%20is%20a%20chance%20for,roles%20of%20women%20have%20been

Canada. Impact Assessment Act. (SC 2019 c 28, s 1) (2019). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.75/.

Leach, M. 2007. “Earth Mother Myths and Other Ecofeminist Fables: How a Strategic Notion Rose and Fell.” Development and Change 38:1: 67-85.

Mallory, C. 2010. “What is Ecofeminist Political Philosophy: Gender, Nature and the Political.” Environmental Ethics 32: 305-322.

Mellor, M. 1997. Feminism and Ecology. New York: New York University Press.

Mies, M. and Vandana Shiva. 1993. Ecofeminism. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Fernwood Publications.

Unger, N. 2010. “From Juke Joints to Sisterspace: The Role of Nature in Lesbian Alternative Environments in the United States.” In Queer Ecologies Sex, Nature, Politics, and Ecology, edited by Catriona Mortimer-Sandilands and Bruce Erickson. Bloomington. IN: Indiana University Press.

Vakoch, D.A., and Sam Mickey, eds. Ecofeminism in Dialogue. Lanham: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2017. Accessed November 8, 2024. ProQuest Ebook Central.

Women and Gender Equality Canada. "What Is GBA Plus?" Introduction to GBA Plus Online Course. Last modified 2023. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://femmes-egalite-genres.canada.ca/gbaplus-course-cours-acsplus/eng/mod03/mod03_02_01.html.