The Movement of Ecofeminism as manifested in A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

This paper addresses itself to the movement of ecofeminism; it investigates how an ecofeminist approach stands as a connection between the issues of women and the issues of nature, particularly the abuse falling on both entities. With a focus on the philosophies of dualism and rationalism as discussed by Val Plumwood, this study aims, among other objectives, to draw attention to the acclaimed similarities between women and nature. Plumwood defines dualism as “an alienated form of differentiation, in which power construes and constructs difference in terms of an inferior and alien realm”.^[1] While rationalism is “a doctrine about reason, its place at the apex of human life.”^[2]  By drawing on dualism and rationalism, Plumwood attempts a critique that helps raise the awareness about the consequences of associating the philosophic conceptions of dualism and rationalism to the male figure. An ecofeminist approach is hence applied in this paper toa novel entitled A Thousand Acres(1991) by Jane Smiley with the purpose of highlighting the fact that man’s recognition of the worth of women and land synonymously would help achieve justice and avoid environmental crisis.
This paper highlights the ecofeminist approach that men should seriously reconsider the roles of women and nature in their lives; all entities (men, women, and nature) should be viewed as inseparable from one another. Throughout the paper, the researcher provides an analysis of the novel and its major characters in order to demonstrate the link between women and nature andto underscore the amount of aggression that both nature and women have experienced in the novel as a result of men’s arrogance. Moreover,the paper stresses the ecofeminist theme of equality among all beings which is needed for a more harmonious ecological balance. For this to be achieved, according to Plumwood, certain male-restricted conceptions like dualism and false rationalism should be totally rejected. The term “human”, for Plumwood, should not be used to refer to men only; women are also part of humanity. In addition, full humanity cannot be achieved without this harmony with nature. Nature constitutes a vital part in human life as it encompasses rich resources that should be taken good care of.



[1] Ecofeminism and The Mastery of Nature 42


[2] Environmental Culture 18