Feminism and popular environmentalism

Feminism and environmentalism are more intertwined than they first appear. To me they are almost interchangeable terms. The feminism and environmentalism I speak of are not the ones that can be defined by our popular culture. Both can be associated with inexplicable beauty, emotion, and ability to nourish. The emotions of this earth expressed thru tidal waves and thunderstorms; it’s breathtaking beauty found in the mountains and the valleys; it nourishing us with berries and greens. Unfortunately the agenda's of these movements to preserve these things seem to be working against themselves. They seem to have been hijacked and manipulated by our capitalist system, by money. The modern feminist movement seems to be working towards molding itself to fit into our masculanized society. Popular environmentalism seems to be sucked into the same market that has enslaved the wilderness, selling it to us and seemingly capitalizing on it. That mainstream environmental movement seems to be more focused on sustaining its office than seeking real solutions for our open spaces. So I think that both environmentalism and feminism trying to work within the system, have become a part of the system that has enslaved them.

Feminism isn't about men and women. It's about sense and sensibility. "Sensory perception is the glue that binds our nervous system into the surrounding ecosystem" (David Abram). We need to have empathy and sensitivity in order to feel connected and to achieve harmony. Fallowing industrialization being a man has become almost a synonym for machines. This association has unfairly defined men as being aggressive, competitive, and without emotions. There duty in a relationally, to provide and protect. Which providing and protecting is now defined in financial terms, financial stability and security. This is how femininity, being nurturing, was ripped out of the hands of the male gender.

The women's version of feminism became hijacked at the point when money became the focal measurement of self worth, women wanted to be a part of this culture too, to feel more valuable. In the current feminist movement there seems to be a shortsighted fixation on workplace equality. I feel this is the anti-thesis of what I think feminism and liberation should be. That possibly the fight for control in the realms of gender equality are blind aspirations for masculine mimicry to fit into the society rigidly designed to function as a machine. That in accomplishing gender equality in this society as it stands would not be a forward step for feminism, but a concession for true liberation that would require us to work outside of the system at hand.

Popular environmentalism I feel has been reduced its focus to sustaining modern human culture rather than nature itself. Not to say we are separate from nature, but we certainly have separated ourselves. Sure we can reduce carbon output by mono-cropping windmills in Iowa or our great lakes. But where are THESE resources coming from to build these? Shouldn't environmentalism and holistic sustainability go hand and hand? New 'solutions' are being sold to us every day. All the while 200 species a day are dying and we are running around in PETA underwear, further encouraging and reinforcing idea of living things as commodities. Being an activist has become a joke these days. Under the capitalist agenda everything is a commodity, including nature. It is unsympathetic to nature, to sensitivity, to beauty. The only parts that we save are all partitioned off and designated for specific use. Everything seems to be of a service to man, even the 'uncivilized man,' who seems to lack the qualification of being a person at all to us. We abuse and exploit them just as we do to nature.

An assistant to the governor of Michigan responded to a letter I wrote regarding modern fracking techniques. He wanted me to know that:

Firstly... " The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is committed toenvironmental stewardship that protects Michigan residents and enhances the quality of life... (also)...

The Governor shares your commitment to Michigan’s environment, and he is working hard to ensure a sustainable future for everyone." I think this is only true to the extent that it fits into his corrupt agenda.

I really do feel that to be a feminist or to be an environmentalist at the true heart of what they are supposed to be and what I think they need to be are interchangeable terms. Being feminine is to have those unexplainable outpourings of feelings to be connected with the emotions of the world. The environment connects us to this as we walk through the woods and something is truly, purely, and simply beautiful. I think this is what we are made for; To see beauty as it is in nature. Not that which has been commercialized and sold to us, but beauty as created by nature. You cannot buy or barter for this. This is us and the trees. We need more empathy and understanding. I think this means to be nurturing, to be loving, to be caring, to express your emotions, to be conscious of your surroundings. This is the true meaning of feminism and to be an environmentalist.