rcsreads's review against another edition
I gave up. It has such a binary view of gender and an overly rosy view of the past. They seem to think all science is evil and all men just want to blow stuff up. The constant comparison of IVF treatment to nuclear weapons really annoyed me.
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Possibly if they did some better research into history and science and wrote an updated version it could be good. There are some decent ideas but a lot more rambling, dated nonsense.
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Possibly if they did some better research into history and science and wrote an updated version it could be good. There are some decent ideas but a lot more rambling, dated nonsense.
schomj's review against another edition
4.0
Antiracist, anticolonialist, feminist examination of ecological activism and theory. So amazingly good.
You know how you're vaguely aware of how GATT and NAFTA and WTO and IMF all those alphabet groups/treaties aimed at "humanitarianism" and "progress" and "development" are kind of a scam? And how "green" consumption is also kind of a scam?This explains how those scams work. And who gets blamed when they don't achieve purported goals.
This also provides models of grassroots ecofeminist praxis that are based in local communities in contact with other communities. Because the problems are global, but the solutions are often local. It's not just woe and misery but also motivation and inspiration to do better.
My one warning for this, aside from the age, is that the authors don't seem to be aware of the existence of queer or trans people, and the two times Islam is mentioned are both yikes.
You know how you're vaguely aware of how GATT and NAFTA and WTO and IMF all those alphabet groups/treaties aimed at "humanitarianism" and "progress" and "development" are kind of a scam? And how "green" consumption is also kind of a scam?This explains how those scams work. And who gets blamed when they don't achieve purported goals.
This also provides models of grassroots ecofeminist praxis that are based in local communities in contact with other communities. Because the problems are global, but the solutions are often local. It's not just woe and misery but also motivation and inspiration to do better.
My one warning for this, aside from the age, is that the authors don't seem to be aware of the existence of queer or trans people, and the two times Islam is mentioned are both yikes.
stefhyena's review against another edition
5.0
Extremely provocative, thorough and hopeful book. I don't know whether to hold onto it so I can reread or make sure I put it where others can read it.
I wish this was read more widely and that world-politics followed some of the suggestions in this book (we should hold them to it).
It's about everything that is wrong with the way we do politics and economics today and how capitalist patriarchy exploits the earth, women, and in general people from the global south. The wicked greed and dishonesty of some is presented as a problem but so is the ignorant over-consumption of most of us.
I feel called out. I didn't completely gel with all the stuff against first-world feminists but I do feel I should think about it more. The arguments are quite deep and nuanced, a lot of detail is given and there is compassion built into the directions for the future (though we can't keep our first world lifestyle)
I wish this was read more widely and that world-politics followed some of the suggestions in this book (we should hold them to it).
It's about everything that is wrong with the way we do politics and economics today and how capitalist patriarchy exploits the earth, women, and in general people from the global south. The wicked greed and dishonesty of some is presented as a problem but so is the ignorant over-consumption of most of us.
I feel called out. I didn't completely gel with all the stuff against first-world feminists but I do feel I should think about it more. The arguments are quite deep and nuanced, a lot of detail is given and there is compassion built into the directions for the future (though we can't keep our first world lifestyle)
notsayingrevolutionbut's review against another edition
5.0
A fabulous starting point for understanding the intersections of sexual politics and environmentalism (aka my two favorite things). It's not an easy read, so be forewarned, but it's not really supposed to be. These are complex issues and it's a complex time and if we can't put in a little bit of work to understand what is going on then we don't deserve to speak about literally anything.
Although this was written 25 years ago, many of the issues are still painfully relevant here in 2020. Some updates might be nice, which I will enjoy exploring as I dive deeper into the ecofeminist movement. Do I have my criticisms? Yes, obviously, I have criticisms for everything. There was an overwhelming focus on the actions that individual consumers should take to mobilize instead of demanding change from the corporations and complexes that are causing the most harm. There were some questionable debates about abortion and contraceptives (like, I see where y'all coming from, but you can't just say "this pushes us dangerously near conservatism" and then not run away from that real quick with some rock-solid arguments and nuances).
What I will say is I deeply appreciated the deep pessimism and cold presentation of the truth in this work. At no point did the authors do that sugar-sweet thing where they turn it all around and say "WAIT! I know that you are feeling depressed and guilty in your shrine of wealth, privilege, and academia so here are some optimistic facts/ things you can do/ personal anecdotes that will make those bad feelings go away." Mies and Shiva let you wallow in those bad feelings and it's great.
Would recommend for anyone building a basis for their understanding of classical feminism or environmental sustainability. Also might suggest bringing a highlighter, box of tissues, and stress ball to the party, just because.
Although this was written 25 years ago, many of the issues are still painfully relevant here in 2020. Some updates might be nice, which I will enjoy exploring as I dive deeper into the ecofeminist movement. Do I have my criticisms? Yes, obviously, I have criticisms for everything. There was an overwhelming focus on the actions that individual consumers should take to mobilize instead of demanding change from the corporations and complexes that are causing the most harm. There were some questionable debates about abortion and contraceptives (like, I see where y'all coming from, but you can't just say "this pushes us dangerously near conservatism" and then not run away from that real quick with some rock-solid arguments and nuances).
What I will say is I deeply appreciated the deep pessimism and cold presentation of the truth in this work. At no point did the authors do that sugar-sweet thing where they turn it all around and say "WAIT! I know that you are feeling depressed and guilty in your shrine of wealth, privilege, and academia so here are some optimistic facts/ things you can do/ personal anecdotes that will make those bad feelings go away." Mies and Shiva let you wallow in those bad feelings and it's great.
Would recommend for anyone building a basis for their understanding of classical feminism or environmental sustainability. Also might suggest bringing a highlighter, box of tissues, and stress ball to the party, just because.
goldandsalt's review against another edition
5.0
This is my jam.
Wish my class had been made to read it in undergrad - it's very internationally focussed, so very appropriate for an international studies program.
Wish my class had been made to read it in undergrad - it's very internationally focussed, so very appropriate for an international studies program.
orlathewitch's review
2.0
Eco-feminism draws important connections between feminism, racism, economic oppression and the environment rather than treating them as stand alone issues.
But it also makes intellectual leaps, such as to assume that violence against women has greatly increased, citing a 87% increase in rape cases in India between 1971 and 2011, without any mention or account of social changes that make it more likely that sexual assault will be reported rather than treated as normal or the politization of violence against women which has thrown it into sharper relief.
But it also makes intellectual leaps, such as to assume that violence against women has greatly increased, citing a 87% increase in rape cases in India between 1971 and 2011, without any mention or account of social changes that make it more likely that sexual assault will be reported rather than treated as normal or the politization of violence against women which has thrown it into sharper relief.
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