Towards an ecological feminist self beyond dualism and essentialism : an inquiry into the contributions made by cultural ecofeminism, critical-transformative ecofeminism and cyber-ecofeminism

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:In this thesis an inquiry is made into the contributions that cultural ecofeminism,critical-transformative ecofeminism and cyber-(eco)feminism make towards thearticulation of an ecological feminist notion of the self that can generate or promotean ethical relation with nature from a position beyond dualism and essentialism.In the first chapter, titled Cultural ecofeminism, different aspects of patriarchalWestern culture are identified that are responsible for the twin dominations ofwomen and nature. In the light of their critique of patriarchal culture and thealienated masculinist self that lies central to it, cultural ecofeminists endorse twoalternative notions of the self, namely a female self and a feminine self. In bothcases the notion of relationality between self and nature is stressed, and alternativefeminine values such as care and nurturing are put forward as providing us withalternative ecological values. The contribution that this position makes towards thearticulation of an ecological feminist self lies in its emphasis on a notion ofrelationality between self and nature, so as to establish an ethical relation betweenself and nature. From both a feminist and an ecological perspective however, thisposition is flawed given its inability to (adequately) overcome the problems ofdualism and essentialism.In the second chapter, titled Critical-transformative ecofeminism, the dualistconceptual framework of the rationalist philosophical tradition is identified asgrounding the domination of women, nature and others. By employing the notionsof continuity and difference, a strategy is proposed to move beyond dualism and byimplication, essentialism. In this chapter, the notion of a pluralist feminine self isproposed and in the context of a critical-transformative ethics, the notion of themutual self is endorsed that allows for continuity and difference between differentselves and self and nature. The ecological values that are endorsed by this positioninclude respect, care, and trust, therefore coinciding, but also diverging fromcultural ecofeminism. Critical-transformative ecofeminism's contribution towards thearticulation of an ecofeminist self beyond dualism and essentialism, lies in itssuccessful movement beyond dualism, especially with regard to the notion of themutual self as a feminist notion of an ecological self. The shortcoming of thisposition is however that the pluralist feminine self which is proposed as anecological notion of a feminist self, is unsuccessful in its attempt to address theproblem of universalising female gender identity.In the third chapter, titled Cyber-(eco)feminism, the notions of the cyborg, thesituated self and the lnappropriate/d Other are discussed as alternative feministsubjectivities. In the discussion of a politics of articulation, an environmental politicsthat emphasises the social and artifactual dimensions of nature, is articulated.Through the figuration of nature as Coyote Trickster, an ecological dimension tothese selves comes to the fore and together these notions are positively receivedfrom an ecological and feminist perspective as adequately overcoming the problemsof dualism and essentialism. From an ecological perspective, it is however arguedthat the technophilic character of the cyborg is problematic and doubt is cast on itsability to forge significant ethical relations. The politics of articulation proposed bycyber-(eco)feminism is commended for its inclusivity, but in the final analysis, it isargued that to establish an ethical relation with nature, care must be taken not tooverlook nature's difference, that is, that nature is an independent entity with needsand ends of its own.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University