Caring for the Environment in the Anthropocene: Ecofeminist Ethics of Independence, Repair, and Responsibility
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The accelerating crises of the Anthropocene demand a fundamental shift in how we think about our relationship with the natural world. This paper argues that ecofeminism – by linking the exploitation of nature with the oppression of women – offers an essential framework for reimagining environmental care. It challenges the entrenched belief in human independence and exceptionalism, showing how patriarchal and capitalist systems have long legitimised the domination of both ecosystems and marginalised communities. Instead, it calls for an ethic of interdependence and kinship, recognising humans as members of an “earth family” deeply entangled with all forms of life. Drawing on thinkers such as Donna Haraway, Val Plumwood, Vandana Shiva, Maria Mies, Ariel Salleh, Ronnie Hawkins, and Serenella Iovino, as well as grassroots movements like the Chipko and Green Belt initiatives, the paper highlights “care” and “repair” as central to ecological healing. It examines how concepts like “response-ability” and the rights of nature, shaped by Indigenous philosophies, expand responsibility beyond the human sphere. It advocates humility, reciprocity, and structural change, rejecting quick technological fixes as the basis for a planetary ethic. Ultimately, it suggests that caring for the environment today is as much about transforming social systems as it is about restoring damaged landscapes.
Source: Research
Author: Anil Kumar Aneja
Institution: University of Delhi
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7140863186