Ecofeminism ─ Feminist intersections with other animals and the earth

Leading feminist scholars and activists as well as new voices explore and introduce themes central to contemporary ecofeminism: the intersections of feminist theory, environmental studies and practical ethics.

Ecofeminism addresses the various ways that sexism, heteronormativity, racism, colonialism, and ableism are informed by and support speciesism. Ecofeminists stress the need to attend to context over universal judgments and argue for the importance of care as well as justice, emotional as well as rationality in working to undo the logic of domination and its material implications.

Feminist Intersections with Other Animals and the Earth begins with a historical, grounding section ("Groundwork") that situates ecofeminist theory and activism, provides a timeline for important publications and events, and presents first person narratives that reflect on experiences making connections. "Groundwork" reveals how, even before Animal Liberation and The Case for Animal Rights—two books linked to the emergence of the animal rights movement and animal studies—feminists were making formative theoretical and practical insights. Two sections follow "Groundwork," one on "Affect" in which authors dig deeper into how our affect can and must inform our relationships with the more than human world. In the final section "Context," the authors explore the complexities associated with making judgments while giving full consideration to changing contexts.

The result is a new fully up-to-date guide and resource for students and teachers of environmental studies, feminist studies, practical ethics, and animal studies.

Carol J. Adams is the author of many books, most notably the pioneering The Sexual Politics of Meat. She has published around 100 articles on vegetarianism, animal rights, domestic violence, and sexual abuse.

Lori Gruen is Professor of Philosophy, Environmental Studies, and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Wesleyan University, USA, where she also coordinates Wesleyan Animal Studies. She is the author most recently of Ethics and Animals: An Introduction and the editor of five books.