Criticism : Ecocriticism and Feminism

 Thinking Activity 

Ecocriticism and Feminism 

This blog is written on the ground as a task assigned by H.O.D Dilip Barad sir Department of English M.K.B.U. In this particular blog I am going to deal with two questions from this unit Criticism and try to justify Ecocriticism and feminism.

Ecocriticism

Ecocriticism serves as a comprehensive avenue for scholars in literature and culture to explore the worldwide ecological crisis, examining the interplay between literature, culture, and the physical environment. Originally termed "literary ecology" in the early 1970s and later coined as "ecocriticism" in 1996, this approach gained prominence with the establishment of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE) in 1992 and the launch of ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment in 1993. The Ecocriticism Reader in 1996 further solidified its status.

While often used broadly to encompass various humanities disciplines addressing ecological concerns, ecocriticism primarily functions as a literary and cultural theory. Despite its literary focus, it frequently integrates insights from science, ethics, politics, philosophy, economics, and aesthetics across international and institutional boundaries.

 Defining ecocriticism proves challenging, with early scholars aiming for an ecologically rooted literary analysis with moral and social commitments to activism. It is often synonymous with "literature and the environment" or "environmental criticism."

The evolution of ecocriticism is delineated into waves. The first wave, somewhat decontextualized, celebrated wilderness and nature writing. The second wave introduced more nuanced approaches, deconstructing human-centered perspectives and addressing issues like imperialism, ecological degradation, agency for non-human entities, and the intersection of gender and race with ecology. 

The third wave emphasizes a global perspective, incorporating elements from the first two waves while aiming to transcend Anglo-American-centric viewpoints.

With a vast body of literature, ecocriticism has spurred numerous books, articles, and chapters, reflecting its evolution and ongoing relevance in exploring and addressing environmental issues through the lens of literature and culture.

Environmental criticism, also known as ecocriticism and “green” criticism , is a rapidly emerging field of literary study that considers the relationship that human beings have to the environment. 

As Cheryll Glotfelty noted in the Introduction to The Ecocriticism Reader, “Just as feminist criticism examines language and literature form a gender-conscious perspective, and Marxist criticism brings an awareness of modes of production and economic class to its reading of texts”. 

Environmental critics explore how nature and the natural world are imagined through literary texts. As with changing perceptions of gender, such literary representations are not only generated by particular cultures, they play a significant role in generating those cultures. Thus, if we wish to understand our contemporary attitude toward the environment, its literary history is an excellent place to start. 

While authors such as Thoreau and Wordsworth may first come to mind in this context, literary responses to environmental concerns are as old as the issues themselves. Deforestation, air pollution, endangered species, wetland loss, animal rights, and rampant consumerism have all been appearing as controversial issues in Western literature for hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of years.

Feminist Criticism

Feminism, the belief in social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. Although largely originating in the West, feminism is manifested worldwide and is represented by various institutions committed to activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.

Why is International Women's Day on March 8?

The first National Women's Day was celebrated on February 28, 1909.See all videos for this article Throughout most of Western history, women were confined to the domestic sphere, while public life was reserved for men. In medieval Europe, women were denied the right to own property, to study, or to participate in public life. At the end of the 19th century in France, they were still compelled to cover their heads in public, and, in parts of Germany, a husband still had the right to sell his wife. 

Even as late as the early 20th century, women could neither vote nor hold elective office in Europe and in most of the United States. Women were prevented from conducting business without a male representative, be it father, brother, husband, legal agent, or even son. Married women could not exercise control over their own children without the permission of their husbands. Moreover, women had little or no access to education and were barred from most professions. In some parts of the world, such restrictions on women continue today. See also egalitarianism.

Feminist criticism is a literary and cultural theory that focuses on the ways in which literature, and other cultural productions, reinforce or challenge the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women. This critical approach emerged as part of the broader feminist movement, seeking to analyze and understand how gender roles and power dynamics are represented and perpetuated in literature and other forms of cultural expression.

Feminist criticism aims to uncover and critique the ways in which literature reflects and perpetuates gender inequalities. It explores the representation of women, examining stereotypes, expectations, and the portrayal of female characters.

Feminist critics often focus on the examination of patriarchy, the social, economic, and political system that historically has been dominated by men. They analyze power structures and how they are depicted in literature, questioning how these structures contribute to the subjugation of women.

Feminist critics scrutinize how women are depicted in literature and culture, considering whether these representations reinforce traditional gender roles or challenge them. They examine issues such as objectification, the Madonna/whore dichotomy, and the limitations placed on female characters.

Feminist criticism explores the representation of women's voices and agency in literature. It investigates whether female characters have autonomy, whether they are allowed to express their desires, and how societal expectations may limit their choices.

Feminist critics often employ an intersectional approach, recognizing that gender intersects with other social categories such as race, class, sexuality, and ethnicity. This allows for a more nuanced analysis that considers the unique experiences of women based on various intersecting identities.

Feminist criticism acknowledges the historical context of literary works and how societal attitudes toward gender have evolved over time. Understanding the historical context helps feminist critics assess the progress made in challenging gender norms and identifying areas where inequality persists.

Feminist criticism seeks to recover and celebrate the works of women writers who have been historically marginalized or overlooked. This includes examining literature from different cultures and time periods to highlight diverse voices.

Many feminist critics see their work as a form of activism, aiming not only to analyze literature but also to contribute to broader social change by challenging oppressive gender norms and advocating for equality.

Feminist criticism is not a monolithic theory. It encompasses various approaches, including liberal feminism, radical feminism, ecofeminism, and postcolonial feminism, among others. These diverse perspectives contribute to a rich and complex understanding of how gender is represented and constructed in literature and culture.