Is the Zero Waste Movement a Feminism Movement?

I am slow to label myself a feminist, perhaps because of the connotations. I am certainly pro-equality, and this includes equality for our mother earth as well as equality for people.

I don’t know if Zero-Waste is a “feminist” movement, but it definitely seems like a whole new opportunity for women to feel empowered, to start businesses, and to make positive changes. 

If I look around both my real life and my social media, my zero-waste feed is full of women. It is full of women who don’t mind traveling an extra mile to a bulk store. They don’t mind cooking a little more to avoid plastic, they don’t mind waiting a few weeks to buy broccoli if they can’t find it plastic free. They also pick up litter from streets and beaches; they don’t mind getting their hands dirty.

I have noticed a few women in particular who fight against plastic pollution, fight against garbage, fight for the environment and against excessive plastic packaging. They are the following:

She is the Zero Waste Woman most people have heard of or were inspired by to go zero waste.

Women all over the world are organizing events and workshops to show others how to reduce waste in their homes.

Other notable women who are fighting against plastic pollution in incredible ways:

  • Anita Horan in Australia is fighting against plastic wrapped fresh produce and even facing the big companies.

  • “Plastic Free July“ funded by a woman in Australia, now world wide people and businesses participate and refuse plastic in July each year.

Women of all ages and all countries fight single use plastic in their daily lives. They don’t mind carrying their own reusable cups and cutlery when out in town or traveling to avoid the single use plastics.

Zero Waste might not be an explicitly feminist movement, but it definitely is a conscious movement and women are on the forefront. 

When I talk to friends (female and male) about why they think there are more women on the forefront in the plastic free, zero waste topic, I have found a consistently similar answer:

  • Women might care a little more about their bodies or their kids health. This could be because they’re the ones that get pregnant, who have that physical attachment to their children.

  • Historically, women have been expected to take care of the home. Even now, in a society where most women do have jobs in addition to kids, they still mostly make the decisions for products and food quality.

  • A lot of women still do the cooking, grocery shopping and other shopping and because they are the consumer for their families, they want to make an eco friendlier choice.

  • Even though many couples share the work in the house, women might still organize or buy the products for the cleaning of the house.

I am certainly not saying men don’t care, because I know they care. My boyfriend actually is very touched by all the plastic pollution that harms wildlife. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t want to face it every day? It seems like men care in a different way or perhaps they are not as involved and loud as women are when it comes to this topic, but always supportive and helping.

Maybe women are just a little more persistent than men when it comes to this topic because they’ve had to be persistent in other areas of their lives?

Zero-Waste also seem to become a design movement. Having a decluttered kitchen and wardrobe, a nice, clean and minimalistic house are things that appeal to women through culture and advertising. That might definitely be a reason why more and more women want to follow a zero-waste lifestyle. This again is the result of a few awesome women, showing others how nice and beautiful an eco-friendly lifestyle can be. It looks a little different and even more chique than the eco movement from the 80’s so that’s definitely an, “I want to follow this path“ magnet.

Kate Bailey, a program manager at Eco-Cycle Solutions is not at all surprised that women are leading the Zero Waste movement, she has said,  in an interview in the Guardian:

“It’s no coincidence that young women are leading the movement. Women everywhere are deeply concerned about the health effects of the growing amount of chemicals and toxins in our daily lives. Women are also the primary purchasers in the household so they are on the frontlines of hyper-consumption in the U.S. They are frustrated by the growing prevalence of single use, disposable products, the trend to over package everything and the lack of choices when it comes to sustainable, less toxic products.“

It seems like the Zero Waste Movement is getting bigger and growing quickly! Join us, get on board and bring your boyfriends/hubbies/male friends with you!

Jule -The Happy Choices Blog