Ecofeminism: Spiritual or Political by Maria Meyes and Vandana Shiva: Summary

The given paper tries to define ecofeminism and its purposes. It is a general overview of ecofeminism as a whole told from the perspective of the author. The author tried to differentiate ecofeminist universalism from that which emerged after the Enlightenment and through the capitalist patriarchal roots. According to this school of thought, instead of there being basic and higher needs, there is simply needs – one is not greater than the other.

According to Ynestra King, Ecofeminism is a connection between practice and theory. Basically well-being of the earth ensures well-being of all the living creatures. According to ecofeminist theory, the main threat to environment or nature is the capitalist mentality, which exploits the nature for material gain and in the process, harms individuals.

The 'Gender Lens' by Sarah C. White: Summary

In her research paper, White brings up an important issue to light. That is, race is often ignored due to all the importance given to gender and sexuality. White states that, focus on gender and gender-related issues makes race and race-related issues appear less important, if not, completely ignored. But in reality, issues related to race often go hand in hand with gender based issues. The aim of her research paper was to bring importance of race and its issues into discussion alongside gender.

While working on this paper, she came across various obstacles. For example, she realized how race-based issues are worked upon so seldom and whatever little work there was, it was moved aside. Next, she found out how she herself was guilty of referencing her works as white-washed in the past. 

White correlates gender with race by giving the example of the second wave of feminism in the 1960s, which included the civil rights movement in USA. She claims that racial awareness along with gender awareness was vastly important in that time. Furthermore, she adds that race and race-related issues should be included within the domains of GAD. But she does not forget to address the lack of absolutism about race. Just as gender, race is controversial and broad in terms of definitions.

From Development to Empowerment by Rekha Datta: Summary

The article is a summation of the activities and impact of SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) in the lives of women, especially the underprivileged and rural women, of India. It talks about the different measures taken by the organization in order to solve various problems a woman has to face in her regular life. The aims of SEWA is to make sure full employment of women is established. 

The organization is situated in Gujarat state of India and since its inception, it has displayed massive success rates in the fields of economy. It is also actively participating to eradicate different social obstructions women face in order to earn a livelihood. One of the biggest hurdles it came across is lack of recognition of self-employed women, such as, women who work in agricultural field, weaving, vending and so on. Previously, the state refused to give these working women the status of “employed”. But with the efforts of SEWA, especially due to the contribution of the young lawyer, Ela Bhatt, the state finally gave these women the proper recognition. This ensured that these women get the benefits of laws when necessary. This is also a stepping stone in the eradication of exploitation of these working class self-employed women.

Types of Feminism and Other Important Terms

Structuralism: The idea that everything can be confined within a structure. This idea was inspired from Saussure’s linguistic structure and the main proponent of this idea is Claude Levi-Strauss. Binary opposites and hierarchy are two main features of this ideology. This is a scientific approach.

Post-Structuralism: The main proponents were Foucault and Derrida and they talked about a decentered universe and deconstruction, meaning that there cannot be a hierarchal order. There is no absolute truth.

Post-modernism: It basically dealt with parody and pastiche. It is a cultural movement which used flashy and festive colors and exaggerated forms of expression.

Colonialism: The idea which leads a state to obtain authority of another state partially, initiating with the aim of trading. Generally, this enables the colonizing country to gain benefits bereaving the colonized country of its powers.

Men, Masculinity and "gender in development" by Andrea Cornwall: Summary

In her research, Andrea Cornwall points out that even though GAD claims to talk about gender in general, it mainly focuses on women and how they are oppressed. At the same time, it demonizes men. This creates an imbalance since, it has already proven that the problem is not “male versus female”; the problem lies in unequal power dynamics. She also points out that GAD emerged only because many of projects under WID failed, and people realized that it’s the institutionalized male privilege or patriarchy, or simply, the system that is at fault; not the biological male or female. Furthermore, she mentions that the current practices within GAD has some limitations.

At the start of 1980s, the idealization of the Universal Woman made even the mainstream feminists uncomfortable and created a power disequilibrium among the western perception of womanhood and other forms of womanhood, namely, black, lesbian, working class etc.