Pragmatism: A 21st Century Materialization of Western Ecofeminism

Abstract

This anthropological dissertation explores the 21st century materialization of the 70s-born social movement that is Ecological Feminism from empirical, theoretical as well as experiential perspectives. Since its emergence, the movement has taken on a myriad of shapes and manifestations and the Ecofeminism studied in a Dutch organization elaborated in this thesis constitutes just one of them. As such, it is different and new compared to existing forms, as well as irreducible to them. As feminists, human rights advocates and environmentalists of the Dutch society, the women and man at the core of Women Engage for a Common Future embody an Ecofeminism that is adapted to contemporary Dutch politics. The result is one of cooperation, advocacy and awareness-raising that finds itself equally molded to international work as it is mediated through millennial communicative channels and pertains to the sustainable development goals erected by international organs. Overall, these elements create a never-before-seen ecofeminist cocktail which aims at creating a healthier, fairer and more sustainable world where women play a bigger role. This goal is achieved through taking a more pragmatic, optimistic as well as realistic approach, essentially opening up the social movement to more than the simple combination of ecology and feminism.