What We Can All Learn From EcoFeminism

Freedom of choice is a sign of a just and equal society.

Our freedom of choice is our most valuable asset as it allows us the freedom to vote with our purchases and to empower change.

Every day we have choices to make. We've probably all heard that we should choose experiences over stuff and make mindful, ethical, and conscious decisions too. I know it’s a common thought among the zero-waste community anyway.

Within feminism today, choice is front and center – it makes up the framework of many debates.

Being a feminist to me, means that I am free to make choices about my lifestyle without the pressures of social constraint – though I may still get strange looks in the grocery store. It means that I am free to raise my children to choose love instead of hate, even if the world around us seems to think otherwise. It means that I can choose to be a career woman, a full-time mom, a DIYer, a zerowaster, or all the above if I wish.

I believe in feminism. I believe that men and women should have the same rights, receive fair pay, and be offered equal opportunities. I believe that a girl can be a racecar driver, an astronaut, or run a farm if she wants to. I believe that a boy can be a ballet dancer, a florist, or even play with dolls -what’s the worst that could happen, he becomes a great father one day? I believe that we all have the power to change the world, one reusable coffee cup at a time.

I often sit and think how different my life could be. I am fortunate to be able to work from home and take care of my son, two things that I truly love. I am fortunate that my family is supportive of my personal choice to create less trash, and are happy to join the cause as well. I think about how different life would have been 100 years ago or even 50 years ago, would I have been heavily criticized for going against the grain? Instead, today I find that the zero-waste community is full of empowering people from all walks of life. It’s no surprise that women are at the forefront of this movement. Together, we are changing the demand for reusable feminine care products, ethical fashion, and even stereo types about female body hair.

But it doesn’t stop with just women, men are growing in number among zerowasters as well. These men may go on to raise strong sons who fight for equality while being conscious consumers. They may go on to create business based on ethical values, sustainable practices, and refuse single-use plastic. They may also go on to be stay at home dads who inspire their children to live an ethical life by setting a positive example.

The Zero-Waste Movement is a great example of a consciousness movement that introduces consumers to the amount of waste produced, the impact of that waste and its production, and the surrounding consequences of consumerism. It also proves that a community can shape and change how our products are created by choosing more sustainable practices ourselves. Things like composting, using reusable bags and containers, buying secondhand clothing, and even making cleaning items and beauty products all bring visibility and awareness for a cause that values strong environmental leaders.

It is important to encourage young girls and boys to be conscious consumers as purchasing power has been gaining recognition. We are now all targets of relentless advertising, fast-fashion, and convenient, plastic-based products. As we become more involved in the environmental movement we become aware how our individual purchases contribute to a system that suppresses girls and women globally.

The industries that produce cheap goods largely employ girls that do not receive job training, reasonable work hours, safe work environments, or even a livable wage. Ecofeminism sees a connection between the exploitation and degradation of the natural world and the subordination and oppression of women.

Who knows what the future holds for the pioneers in the zero-waste revolution. The growing interest in creating a circular economy is gaining momentum and we know that for a truly sustainable world, we must look to a zero-waste future. Consumers have much more power than we realize. With the well know phrase, “buying is voting”, we now hold more power to change the world than ever before.

From cosmetic companies listening to consumers about cleaner products and take back programs for packaging, to everyday grocery stores providing more and more organic options, the choices that we are making are being heard loud and clear as consumer demands of these goods increase. Even the notorious fashion industry has stepped up its game with more brands committing to sustainably and ethically sourced items.

It’s common for all societies have social norms. These are the unspoken rules that we live by in order to fit in. But in today’s world and our ever-evolving society, I see no reason why we feel like we need to fit into anyone’s model of our lives. I don’t understand why there would be any restrictions based on gender, race, lifestyle, or beliefs.

After all, our money spends the same does it not?

In our modern society, industrial practices move us further away from our connection with the earth as biodiversity is lost. People all over the world silently suffer in the name of progress. These social and environmental issues are not separate, the causes for the mistreatment of women, people of color and the environment stem from the same place. Life in the natural world is maintained through cooperation, mutual care and love for one another. We must rekindle and embrace our interdependence and connection that we humans have with the Earth.

Ecofeminism offers a way of encouraging this interconnectedness with our environment and addressing the mistreatment of women and all people.

Monumental changes have been made over the past century, providing both men and women with a greater variety of opportunities than ever before. While many women are strong and independent, some women choose to run their own companies, some aspire to become the next President of the United States, and others’ feel that their lives are most fulfilled as stay at home mothers.  And that's okay because we're all different, we all have something different to offer, and our choices should be celebrated.

We are exercising our right to choose, which is, after all, what feminism is all about.