ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses corporate social responsibility (CSR) using ecofeminist concepts of anti-hierarchy and anti-capitalism to critically read the CSR literature and implementation. The chapter argues that CSR is a smokescreen for capitalism and for preserving the status quo, and this analysis is done through a deconstruction of CSR literature and ambiguities that exist in CSR definitions where the argument is that CSR is actually saving capitalism as an economic regime rather than improving capitalism or being a concept that demands something of capitalist structures. The chapter also provides an analysis of shareholder vs stakeholder debate in CSR and argues that both orientations are capitalist and this is argued through the literature analysis and the language CSR academics use in writing about the concept. The chapter also provides an analysis of CSR and the media, and this section analysed both coverage of CSR in the mainstream media as well as the concept of media social responsibility, which is a different concept than CSR due to the power and social status of the media. Thus, the argument is that CSR is a capitalist and neoliberal concept meant to preserve the status quo; however, social responsibility of the media is needed because of media influence on political and social processes and their influence on attitude formation. The chapter also discusses the research on CSR and women, thus providing a link with ecofeminist theory and works on women in general.
