The Ecofeminism of Ivone Gebara
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The Ecofeminism of Ivone Gebara Elaine Nogueira-Godsey Town Cape of Supervisor: David Chidester Co-Supervisor: Sa’diyya Shaikh Thesis Presented for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Universityin the Department of Religious Studies Faculty of Humanities UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN November 2013 The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgementTown of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Cape Published by the University ofof Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University Para os meus filhos Natália e Lucas Que são minha inacabável fonte de alegria e inspiração! To Nina Hoel, a rare human being, who I have the luck to call friend and To Trad Nogueira-Godsey who has been married to a PhD thesis for the last fifteen months. ii “Prefiro ser essa metamorfose ambulante Do que ter aquela velha opinião formada sobre tudo” (Raul Seixas, 1945-1989) iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements vi Abstract ix Preface xi Chapter 1: Introduction: Contextualizing the Theology of Ivone Gebara 1 1.1 Research Context 6 1.2 Conceptual Frameworks 18 1.3 Gebara’s Life Trajectory 23 1.4 Chapter Outline 38 Chapter 2: The Contours of Global Ecofeminism 41 2.1 Ecofeminist Development 43 2.2 Women, Ecology and Development 51 2.3 The Academic Intersection 56 2.4 Ecofeminist Basic Tenets 59 2.5 The Intersection of Ecofeminism 70 and Christian Feminist Theologies 2.6 Ecofeminist Political Praxis 75 Chapter 3: A History of Resistance 81 3.1 Liberation Theologies 83 3.2 Positioning Feminist Theology in 92 Latin America’s Liberationist Context 3.3 Positioning Feminist Liberation Theology in 101 Latin America’s History of Resistance 3.4 The Impact of Patriarchal Theology on Gender Roles 104 iv Chapter 4: A New Anthropology 118 4.1 The Intersecting Realities Underlying 121 Gebara’s Feminist Liberation Theology 4.2 Gebara’s Anthropological Proposal from a 131 Postcolonial Perspective 4.3 A Patriarchal Project 135 4.4 Constructing an Alternative Theological Anthropology 142 Chapter 5: Ecofeminist Theology from the In-Between Spaces 161 5.1 Historical Background 164 5.2 Rethinking Christian Concepts 185 5.3 Re-thinking the Human Person 189 5.4 A New Ethic as an Ecofeminist Liberationist Praxis 198 Chapter 6: Conclusion: Gebara and Ecofeminist Horizons 206 6.1 Personal Commitment as an Ecofeminist 208 Liberationist Praxis 6.2 Commitment to Others as an Ecofeminist 214 Political Praxis 6.3 Commitment to the Earth Community as an 220 Ecofeminist Liberationist Spiritual Praxis Bibliography 228 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My research and my interests expressed through these papers are reflections of the person that I have become, that I am. Many people have impacted my life and thoughts throughout my life journey. Today, I am the result of these cross-cultural encounters. As a Brazilian living in South Africa for the past fourteen years I can say that this road of divergence and convergence of thought is part of my essence. To write a PhD thesis in another language that is not your own, is a challenge that only those who have been through the same experience can fully understand. The inability to express your thoughts at the level and fluency that you wish can drive one at times to a point of desperation, and this was no different for me. Still, I often would find myself analysing the reasons that propelled me to pursue this project in a different language and country. One among many other reasons is that I like challenges and I like to be among people who have a different culture from mine. I enjoy the diversity and the cross-cultural experience. I understand that this reality has forced me to grow out of my comfort zone and learn and re-learn things that I would not otherwise have learned. I would like to acknowledge all the people that have contributed to this project, indirectly and directly. However, I am afraid the number of pages would overcome the ones of this project itself. For this reason I will mention a few that currently compose this kaleidoscope that has been my academic journey. First I would like to say thank you to my father, Walter Nogueira Faria, a man who became a widower very young and who raised three girls in the best way he could. Among many things, he taught me through his own life experiences that there will always an alternative in the middle of struggle. Thank you for being persistent through the most difficult times of our lives. I also want to say thank you to my stepmother, Eny Nogueira, who chose to be my mother. Your decision to be part of our lives has taught me more than words could describe about love and care. Em primeiro lugar eu gostaria de agradecer ao meu pai, Walter Nogueira Faria, um homem que ainda jovem ficou viúvo e educou sozinho três meninas da melhor vi maneira que sabia. Com o seu exemplo de vida ele me ensinou a ser persistente em meio das dificuldades. Obrigada Pai por ter me amado durante os anos mais difíceis das nossas vidas. Eu também gostaria de dizer obrigada à minha madrasta Eny Nogueira, a mulher que escolheu ser minha mãe. A sua decisão em fazer para parte das nossas vidas me ensinou mais do que palavras poderiam sobre amor e carinho. Over the years living in Cape Town I have met scholars who have inspired me and supported my academic journey. I would like to say thank you to Samantha D’Aries who was my first English teacher and friend in South Africa. You were the first person to join me on my journey by supporting my decision to pursue an academic career in an English-speaking country. Dr. Sibusiso Masondo who was the lecturer that triggered my curiosity in feminism. I would like to say thank you to my supervisors. I feel truly fortunate in having Professor David Chidester as my supervisor and mentor, a person that has provided opportunities that are forever valuable. Being part of ICRSA’s research team is surely one of the most awesome adventures I will ever be a part of. I am in debt to Dr. Sa’diyya Shaikh who agreed to come on board in the middle of my PhD trajectory as my co-supervisor and has played an essential role guiding this thesis’s direction. Sa’diyya, you have definitely brought much wisdom and fun to this process. I also want to say thank you to Dr. Judy Tobler who has done excellent work in editing this thesis, but above all has been my friend, and a source of inspiration. I wish to thank, in addition, Dr. Nina Hoel, who in a later and unexpected stage of this thesis has given wise advice and has been a source of priceless knowledge and Jennifer Woodhull who voluntarily bore the most tedious job of a PhD thesis, the editing of footnotes and bibliography. I believe that every PhD student needs at least one friend to help maintain their sanity during the PhD process. I am lucky to have three such good friends. Dr. Nina Hoel, my best friend through this journey called life, you have shown me so much about what it means to be human and about the woman I wanted to be. Thank you for all the crying, chatting, late hours of work and all the glasses of wine. Dr Vimal Ranchhod, you have helped in making this process interesting and for keeping my husband sane. Thank you for being part of our family and for being our family in South Africa. Last, but not least, I want to say thank you to my husband Trad Nogueira-Godsey who has played the role of supervisor, editor, mother to our children, chef and above all a supportive and vii understanding friend. Thank you! There are two very special people who have daily and unconsciously contributed to my project. They are part of my life process and, as such, without them I would be today a different person. I would like to acknowledge Natalia and Lucas Nogueira, the most brilliant and loving children a parent could ever wish for. viii THE ECOFEMINISM OF IVONE GEBARA Elaine Nogueira-Godsey 10.11.2013 ABSTRACT This thesis investigates the intellectual trajectory of the Brazilian feminist liberation theologian Ivone Gebara. Gebara’s development and conceptualisation of the notion of ‘immediacy’ from a feminist perspective not only constitutes a central and critical feature of her theology, but also emerges as a key component in forging increased dialogue and cooperation between Southern and Northern ecofeminists. The immediate context of oppression experienced by poor Latin American women is the ground upon which Gebara has built her critique of patriarchal and apolitical Christian theological discourses, as well as capitalist ideologies. These multiple forms of oppression, Gebara argues, render women’s experiences of marginalisation invisible or hidden within socio-cultural and economic-political immediate realities. This thesis proposes that the immediate reality of oppression lead Gebara to develop a specific methodological approach that is responsive to the experiences of women in particular. Gebara’s praxis-orientated methodology also functions as a compass for the development of a political ecofeminist praxis. As Ivone Gebara’s work demonstrates, the political aspect of theology can be injected into the core of emerging ecotheologies. In the process, ecofeminist theologians can work to bridge the gap between theory and praxis.