The Ecological Self

“Ecofeminism is the third wave of the feminist revolution. It says that the feminine values of non-violence, cooperation, and nurturing will help to connect us with nature and prevent ‘ecocatastrophe.’” So wrote essayist Virginia Westbury in the May 1991 Australian edition of the fashion magazine Elle. Ecofeminism in Australia, she asserts, is widespread, multifaceted, and controversial. It concerns both saving the earth and making life better for women. ¹