Gender And Natual Resources Flashcards
What is ecofeminism?
A range of theoretical and activist positions which connect the oppression of women with the destruction of nature
And the role of women in solving ecological problems
What are the criticisms of ecofeminism?
It is an essentialist view: sees women as “naturally pro elegies environmental managers” based on biology
Also suggests that men conquering/dominating nature is biological
Why is “gender and natural resources” a better way of looking at issues?
It looks beyond women as “natural protectors” and rather at the way women are connected to the environment through the fact that access to resources is an important issue for women
What is feminist political ecology?
The study of ecology emphasising gender relations as an important shaper of resource struggles
How are resources gendered?
Petroleum, oil, gas = male?
Firewood, water, land = female?
What do Hanson and buechler say about women’s water rights?
Women are less likely to inherit or have the capital to purchase land and land rights are pre-requisites to water rights
What is one way that women are victims of exploitive extractive industries?
Sexual and gender-based violence in mining industries in the DRC
Militia groups use rape as a weapon to control the supply of mineral resources
Women and children= up to 60% of miners, sorters, transporters and suppliers in small scale mining areas
= prevalence of rape, prostitution, forced marriage, domestic violence
Statistics proving that extractive industries are patriarchal?
World bank 2009:
Rare worldwide to find extractive industries with over 10% female employment
50% of the major natural resource companies have no women in their ExComs
What are the gendered impacts of this lack of female representation in EI?
- employment and income
- environmental degradation often increases time for women to complete tasks
- women left out of community consultations
What are the impacts of a reduction of female presence in the labour force?
- higher fertility rates
- less education for girls
- less female influence within family
- fewer women outside the home means they are less likely to lobby for expanded rights and gain representation in government
Petroleum perpetuates patriarchy? (Ross 2008)
Oil producing states have an atypically strong patriarchal culture and political institution
Oil rents have a negative impact on female labour force and participation
What is the counter argument to this?
“Petroleum patriarchy is a tendency not destiny” (kang 2009)
Solution = gender quotas, strong gender-based policy interventions to mitigate impact
What are some examples of efforts to try and stop the petroleum patriarchy?
2006: the UAE established arzanah = a dedicated faculty for women at the National Petroleum Institute
2009: the world bank begun its ‘mainstreaming gender into extractive industries” projects
What is the theory of women, peace and natural resources?
Women have been shown to prioritise equitable access to natural resources as an important part of peace eg land, forests, and water
What is essentialism?
Women are inherently more nurturing and caring
Women are connected with nature also through the fact that they are both subjugated by a patriarchal society
