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5
found in Western science. At the same time, however, her own approach can be
criticized for reductionism. Without empirical research, women are depicted as
being environmentally friendly in contrast to men, and they are cast in the role of
lifesavers of nature. Moreover, women of the Global South tend to be seen as victims of Western development and its resultant environmental degradation.
However, social science studies reveal a world that is far more diverse. Shiva’s theory nevertheless, it may still be useful to apply as a basis of comparison for students interested in examining specific cases involving gender and the environment.
Shiva’s ecofeminism has played an important role in fostering an awareness of
the relevance of gender in questions concerning environment and development. In
feminist political ecologies today, however, it is pivotal also to learn from weaknesses of ecofeminism. It is especially important to avoid biological essentialism
and instead to be aware that gendered divisions of labour, knowledge and power
can vary in different societies and cases. Therefore, empirical research has to be
conducted in order to establish the various ways that power is gendered.
5.5 Does it Matter That Decisions on the Environment Are
Dominated by Men?
We argue that there are grounds for replacing an essentialist and stereotyped perspective of women as being generally more environmentally friendly than men.
Does it then matter if men control decision-making processes on conservation and
environmental governance? Are there other reasons for ensuring that both women
and men participate in political process on these issues?
Our prime argument here is the normative view that women must have the same
opportunities as men for taking part in political processes. We argue, in other
words, that men and women should have the same rights of democratic participation. We think it should be unnecessary to have to argue for this in Norway or in
any other country. The establishment of protected areas and other questions concerning area use are seen as crucial in many communities, and we find it unacceptable to exclude women from participation in policy-making in this field.
Furthermore, systematic exclusion of women as participants in decisionmaking processes may be regarded as a waste of human resources. Moreover, there
is often a gendered division of labour, such that women and men possess different
fields of expertise that ought to be taken into consideration. Women and men may
also, in particular contexts, have different interests in outcomes from environmental decision-making, owing, for instance, to differences in their ownership and
access to land and natural resources.
In individual cases, gendered activities that women are responsible for may be
more environmentally friendly than those that men do, but this can never be taken
for granted. In concrete cases, researchers may study such gender patterns and
investigate causes for the findings. Various factors may be involved, including gendered power and division of labour, cultural notions of women and men, as well as
biological differences.
5.5 · Does it Matter That Decisions on the Environment Are…
5
found in Western science. At the same time, however, her own approach can be
criticized for reductionism. Without empirical research, women are depicted as
being environmentally friendly in contrast to men, and they are cast in the role of
lifesavers of nature. Moreover, women of the Global South tend to be seen as victims of Western development and its resultant environmental degradation.
However, social science studies reveal a world that is far more diverse. Shiva’s theory nevertheless, it may still be useful to apply as a basis of comparison for students interested in examining specific cases involving gender and the environment.
Shiva’s ecofeminism has played an important role in fostering an awareness of
the relevance of gender in questions concerning environment and development. In
feminist political ecologies today, however, it is pivotal also to learn from weaknesses of ecofeminism. It is especially important to avoid biological essentialism
and instead to be aware that gendered divisions of labour, knowledge and power
can vary in different societies and cases. Therefore, empirical research has to be
conducted in order to establish the various ways that power is gendered.
5.5 Does it Matter That Decisions on the Environment Are
Dominated by Men?
We argue that there are grounds for replacing an essentialist and stereotyped perspective of women as being generally more environmentally friendly than men.
Does it then matter if men control decision-making processes on conservation and
environmental governance? Are there other reasons for ensuring that both women
and men participate in political process on these issues?
Our prime argument here is the normative view that women must have the same
opportunities as men for taking part in political processes. We argue, in other
words, that men and women should have the same rights of democratic participation. We think it should be unnecessary to have to argue for this in Norway or in
any other country. The establishment of protected areas and other questions concerning area use are seen as crucial in many communities, and we find it unacceptable to exclude women from participation in policy-making in this field.
Furthermore, systematic exclusion of women as participants in decisionmaking processes may be regarded as a waste of human resources. Moreover, there
is often a gendered division of labour, such that women and men possess different
fields of expertise that ought to be taken into consideration. Women and men may
also, in particular contexts, have different interests in outcomes from environmental decision-making, owing, for instance, to differences in their ownership and
access to land and natural resources.
In individual cases, gendered activities that women are responsible for may be
more environmentally friendly than those that men do, but this can never be taken
for granted. In concrete cases, researchers may study such gender patterns and
investigate causes for the findings. Various factors may be involved, including gendered power and division of labour, cultural notions of women and men, as well as
biological differences.
5.5 · Does it Matter That Decisions on the Environment Are…