Patriarchy is a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress, and exploit women. It is based on an ideology of men’s superiority over women/nature. The subordination takes various forms: discrimination, disregard, insult, control, exploitation, oppression, and violence. Science and religion support patriarchal assumptions of male superiority over nature and women as biologically determined. In pre-patriarchal, pagan societies, women and nature were worshiped as life-givers. In Christian belief, God creates man in his image, and women and nature for the benefit of man. “Adam is Soul, Eve is Flesh”. Ecological feminists (Gaard, Heller) argue that culture defines the connection of women and nature. Men are as much part of nature as women are. However, the patriarchal culture identifies women with body, sex, irrationality, passivity, and earth. It is decided that women are closer to nature. Men identify with spirit, mind, action, and power; they are rational, stable, reliable, and intelligent. Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva (1993) observe that women are more concerned about subsistence survival perspective than are men, most of who continue to believe that more growth, technology, science, and 'progress' will simultaneously solve the ecological and economic crises. During the Chipko struggles in India women participated in hugging the trees and wanted to preserve their subsistence base, on the other hand their men wanted modernization and waged work. They objected to women becoming the leaders in this movement and challenging their role as village leaders (Mies & Shiva, 1993 p. 304). Considering that interdependence is central to Ecofeminism, it would be inconsistent to exclude men from this network of responsibility for the creation and continuation of life. Therefor it is necessary that men begin to share the responsibilities for creation and preservation of life on this planet instead of tryin...
