Violence against women, rooted in gender inequality, persists due to patriarchal and capitalist mindsets. It remains a significant threat to both women and nature. Therefore, this issue should be examined through the lens of ecofeminism. In this article, we analyze violence against women and its causes from this perspective.
Ecofeminism emerged in the 1970s, exploring the hierarchical relationships between men and nature, as well as between men and women. After centuries of hegemonic patriarchal capitalism—beginning with colonialism—this system sought to dominate natural resources, leading to the occupation and control of nature. Simultaneously, it assigned women roles within households as a source of labor. This process of subjugating both nature and women fostered the illusion that they exist solely for resource production. This phenomenon, known as the colonization of women and Mother Earth, marked the beginning of a war against both. This war is rooted in an economic system that disregards ecological and moral boundaries, perpetuates inequality, and enables the unjust exploitation of resources by a minority of wealthy men.
Ecofeminism, as both an ideology and a movement, arose in response to collective crises such as poverty, hunger, wealth and income inequality, climate change, gender discrimination, social injustice, colonialism, imperialist wars, and economic exploitation. Ecofeminists view these crises as interconnected, all stemming from the dominance of the patriarchal capitalist system.
Vandana Shiva, head of the Research Foundation for Ecology, Science, and Technology, states: “Capitalism is patriarchal, gender-biased, and anti-nature in both its cultural framework and its economic mechanisms.”
Similarly, Ariel Salleh, a writer and ecofeminist, argues that ecofeminism is not merely about liberating women but about freeing all of humanity. The movement ultimately aims to protect nature and all living beings. From this perspective, the liberation of any marginalized group is inherently tied to the liberation of women and nature. Patriarchy—rooted in economic, social, and demographic factors—establishes a rigid hierarchy that places men at the top while relegating nature and all other beings to subordinate ranks.
At the same time, patriarchal and neoliberal institutions work to ensure that economic and political systems remain controlled by men for their benefit. Within this system, men are empowered through the devaluation and marginalization of women, reinforced by moral and ethical narratives that perpetuate female subjugation.
Ecofeminists argue that women today face continuous threats, including war, displacement due to climate change, trafficking and commodification of women’s bodies, domestic and societal oppression, poverty, unemployment, and patriarchal institutions that dictate education, healthcare, and social policies.
The patriarchal capitalist system seeks to dominate women both physically and ideologically, using its most powerful tools to suppress all forms of resistance.
Climate Change and Gender Inequality
Climate change is one of the most significant consequences of capitalism, deeply affecting social justice and gender equality. It has direct impacts on decision-making regarding public health and societal well-being. For example:
- Global warming and environmental disasters contribute to declining economic and social rights, particularly for women. Climate change exacerbates:
- The spread of disease, poverty, and resource depletion, leading to global economic inequality and social injustice.
- Food insecurity, especially in the Global South, where changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures reduce agricultural productivity. Women—who are already economically disadvantaged and less likely to own land or production resources—face greater risks than men.
- Regions most affected by climate change, such as the Global South, struggle with weak governance, corruption, economic instability, and food insecurity. In 2019, over 18 million people were displaced due to environmental disasters; by 2020, this number increased, with nearly half of all international migrants being women.
- Increased environmental disasters lead to rising social conflicts and violence against women and girls. Some of the most notable forms of gender-based violence include femicide, sexual violence, and child marriage.
While violence against women takes many forms, this discussion focuses on femicide and child marriage.
Femicide
Femicide refers to the killing of women based on their gender, often as a means of exerting control over them. It is typically committed by male family members or members of society seeking to reinforce dominance or impose punishment. High femicide rates in any given city, region, or country indicate deep-rooted gender inequality, patriarchal attitudes, and conservative ideologies. These rates also reflect women’s limited participation in political, economic, and legal decision-making.
A study conducted by the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported that:
- In 2022, approximately 89,000 women and girls were intentionally killed worldwide.
- In 2021, this number was 81,100, with around 45,000 of these murders committed by intimate partners or family members—equating to more than five women or girls killed every hour by someone in their own family.
- In 2023, the daily average exceeded 140 women and girls murdered by a family member.
In the Kurdistan region, violence against women has been normalized since the 1990s. Women are killed in various ways, and their murderers—whether party leaders, clan members, or family heads—are often shielded by societal and legal structures. There are no official statistics on the number of women killed since the 1990s, but it is believed that thousands have been murdered or burned alive annually under the pretext of “honor killings.” In 2021, the Directorate of Combating Violence Against Women and Families in Kurdistan reported that over the past decade, 2,057 women had been killed or died by self-immolation. However, many believe these figures significantly underreport the actual numbers, as many cases remain undocumented. Since 2022, the Kurdish Regional Government has ceased publishing official statistics on violence against women.
Child Marriage
Child marriage refers to the marriage of individuals under 18 and is considered a form of modern slavery. It has profound social and physical consequences, disproportionately affecting girls.
According to UNICEF, approximately 12 million girls worldwide are married before the age of 15 each year. Child marriage rates are highest in Africa and South Asia, where 30-35% of girls marry before 18. While some societies culturally normalize this practice, international conventions widely condemn it as a violation of human rights.
Though poverty and gender inequality are often cited as primary drivers of child marriage, recent research highlights a direct connection between climate change and rising child marriage rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that environmental disasters contribute to increased child marriages. For example, after Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh in 2007, child marriage rates rose by 62% within a year.
Even a 1.5°C increase in global temperatures could push millions into extreme poverty, disproportionately impacting regions like Africa and South Asia, where child marriage and forced circumcision were most prevalent in 2021.
Addressing the Crisis: Ecofeminist Solutions
Crises in nature have significant effects on women, with a strong correlation between gender inequality and their outcomes, particularly in the case of climate change. Ecofeminism offers a framework for addressing gender and environmental injustices through policies and activism:
- Women’s participation in policymaking: Women must be involved in drafting and implementing policies addressing climate crises and their impact on marginalized communities.
- Empowering women as leaders: Strengthening women’s leadership roles in climate change mitigation can reduce their vulnerability to violence and enhance their resilience.
- Rebuilding gender relations and promoting ecological justice: Ecofeminism challenges patriarchal structures that perpetuate violence against women. By advocating for egalitarian approaches, it aims to protect nature and prevent femicide while ensuring women’s safety in the face of climate change.
By addressing the intersection of environmental destruction and gender-based violence, ecofeminism provides a path toward a more just and sustainable future.
