GENDER EQUALITY AND STATE ENVIRONMENTALISM

Gender inequality may be linked to the degradation of our planet.  At least this is the research being talked about in Kari Norgaard and Richard York’s “Gender Equality and State Environmentalism.”  Largely absent from older debates is awareness of, or attention to, the gendered nature of environmental politics. Their research On countries such as Norway and Singapore has brought light on the subject.  The two leading countries in industrial but are polar opposites of environment and gender equality.  Norway with more gender equality and less sexism has not only fulfilled the environmental treaties of the Global Eco, are more impactful on the environment globally.  Where as Singapore is industrially high carbon emissions footprint almost double the amount of over 13% of the worlds emissions and with very little women in leadership roles it gives you the clue that maybe gender equality is important to the servical of the planet and mankind in general.   “Existing work in the area of gender and the environment and ecological feminism suggests several reasons that nations with greater gender equality may be more prone to protecting the environment.”(508)

What do you think?  Do you think women around the world care way more about the environment?  Women do care more about the environment statistically and here’s why.    They have been and still are more affected by the disturbance of nature.  As described in this quote.

“Women have more pro-environmental values, are more risk averse, are more likely to participate in social movements, typically suffer disproportionately from environmental degradation, and sexism and environmental degradation can be mutually reinforcing processes.” Norgaard and York.  

A photo of First Lady Erdoğan: “Our relation with the environment is, above all, an issue of morals. It is not an option but a necessity for Muslims to protect the environment, defend animals’ rights and live modestly without wasting.”  

It’s refreshing and exciting to read of leading women in the world and it’s important to talk about.  First Lady Erdoğan’s “zero waste project” is underway in Turkey and making huge changes to laws and policies.  She is speaking to the sensibilities  of many eco-feminists around the world.

A photo in Turkey of the significant change on the “zero waste” initiative.

In a culture that over values masculine qualities we set the stage for Trump and Putin.  The stage of violence and war with guns, border laws and the fight for oil in Venezuela or the fight for Gaza and taking more land from Palestine.

  This research of Norgaard and York indicates that women are more likely than men to express support for environmental protection and that women consider a variety of environmental risks, from nuclear power to toxic substances, to be more serious than do men.

Syrian schoolchildren run past heavily damaged buildings in the rebel-held are of Jobar, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, on April 30, 2016. / AFP / AMER ALMOHIBANY (Photo credit should read AMER ALMOHIBANY/AFP/Getty Images)

Women are consciously more aware of the responsiblity for future generations.  As we are the ones literally giving birth to a nation and have too much invested to see it fail.  Explanations for the gender gap in environmental concern have built on this work, suggesting, for example, that women are more concerned about the environment because they have been socialized to be family nurturers and caregivers (Hamilton 1990).

Let me just say that I was not groomed to be a politician but I think I may have been more inclined if I saw more female leaders growing up. Women in politics have been held back and with less women in power the less we see happening to protect our environment.

Without women like First Lady Erdoğan and Brundtland  and other women around the world fighting for the environment where would we be?

Women like First Lady Erdoğan and Bruntland are paving the way.  Bruntland  made huge steps bringing women to more levels of leadership in creating change in the environment for Norway in the 70’s.  She created new policies that led to change on a global scale.  There are more women in politics since the late 1970’s.  This can be seen in the chart below.

This is what the stats are of women in parliament.

The key to closing the gender gap? Putting more women in charge! This article was amazing describing the need for more women in office and having more women presidents. I love that this is such a true statement. Women hire more women.  When Norgaard and York talk about Norway and Singapore on equality and emissions it’s mind blowing. There is way more evidence pointing to women’s impact on the world when they are in higher up positions.  

The gender gap and the state of the environment are connected.  The link below helps mine the real gaps to help create a sustainable planet and a world that works for everyone.  Women leaders and more women in charge of changing environmental policies.  Check out more oon the “Zero Waste Program”. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2016/10/27/7-important-facts-about-the-global-gender-gap/#772e47a34c22

Links about the global gender gaps

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2017.pdf

https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/08/news/economy/gender-equality-economy-environment-opinion/index.html

Zero waste initiative.

https://www.turkeyhomes.com/blog/post/turkey-s-zero-waste-project-and-efforts-to-protect-the-environment

http://www.tim.org.tr/en/press-room-news-tim-launched-zero-waste-in-exports-campaign.html