Ideological Sources of Hierarchy in Western Thought

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Ecology Part IV: Ecofeminism (chapters; 16, 17, 18, and 19) in Merchant’s Key Concepts in Critical Theory: Ecology textbook (Ecology) book
Reflect on what they have learned through these chapters. It should reflect on what was learned and answer at least three or four of the chapter questions and 2 interpretative questions. Your paper should demonstrate mastery of the readings.
Part IV: Ecofeminism, chapters 16, 17, 18, 19 (ES)
Chapter 18 questions: Val Plumwood, “Ecosocial Feminism as a General Theory of Oppression.”
Question 1: What are some of the ideological sources of hierarchy in Western thought, according to Plumwood? Are these the same as the sources of material and cultural domination?
According to Plumwood, the master form of the rationality of western culture is unable to systematically acknowledge dependency on nature, the sphere of those it has defined as perceived ‘inferior’ others. Plumwood argues that the dualistic distortion of culture with historical inferiority of women and nature in western thought is based on a range of assumptions, including inferiority, duality, women, men, and dualistic assumptions
Plumwood argues against the "hyperseparation" of humans from nature and “standpoint of mastery”, which is a reason or nature dualism where women, indigenous people, and non-humans constitute nature that is subordinated. The world's knowledge is systematically distorted by the elite domination leading to development ‘blind spots’, which may threaten our survival. Our future relies on increasing the ability to create a democratic and ecological culture beyond dualism.
Question 3:Although she emphasises the need to take all forms of domination into account, does Plumwood herself identify any specific form/s of domination as being of particular pertinence to the question of ecological harm?
She defined the concept of ecological harm as "the standpoint of mastery", which reflects a set of views of the self as associated with sexism, racism, capitalism, colonialism, , classism, heterosexism, and ethnocentrism, and the domination of nature. This set of views entails perceiving others as radically separate and inferior, whose existence is secondary and its agency is denied or limited. This group is considered as a mere derivative or peripheral item to that of the self. The concept of domination is viewed as a source of ecological harm. Domination is often derived from the hierarchical structure and used by the male to control women, land, and living things. The concept of dualism is associated with polarisation involving mind and body, man and woman, culture and nature, or white and black. This dualistic thinking leads to the feminizing of nature and the naturalizing of women.
Chapter 19 questions: Noel Sturgeon, “Ecofeminist Movements.”
Question 1: Why does Sturgeon claim that ecofeminists have a “poor reputation” (p. 238). What does she say are the sources of this reputation?
Sturgeon (pp.238) argues that ecofeminism is a complex political phenomenon, a contemporary political movement with a ramification of effects, a popular following, and...