Vol. 25 No. 3, September 2006

In God's Image is an Asian Christian women's effort to provide a forum for expressing our reality, our struggles, our faith reflections and aspirations for change.

Editorial

When the Editorial Advisory Committee of In God’s Image came up with possible themes for the various editions of our journal, one of the suggestions made was “Caring for God’s Garden”. This simple theme is of course a way of putting across the concept of ecofeminism – which unites environmentalism and feminism, or ecology and feminism. 

Ecofeminists have clearly pointed out that there is a relationship between the oppression of women and the degradation of nature and between sexism as well as the other issues such as racism, casteism, classism, religious chauvinism, and anthropocentrism. What they have in common is the assertion of power that results in the domination by certain groups and the exploitation of the other groups, including other creatures in nature or creation. 

The term ecofeminism (short form for ecological feminism) was coined in 1974 by Françoise d’Eaubornne to refer to a philosophy and movement that came out of the union of feminist and ecological thinking. It is rooted in the belief that “the social mentality that leads to the domination and oppression of women is directly connected to the social mentality that leads to the abuse of the environment” ( wikipedia.com ). 

In Asia, this dominating social mentality is manifested in the male ownership of the land, the trends towards export of goods and cash crops for profit, and subjecting land and earth’s resources to the modern development paradigms which have resulted in the overuse and abuse of natural resources. Colonization, not only in the past, but also in its present form through globalization is seen as something akin to the rape of the land just like the rape of women. 

Indeed, the connections between women and nature cannot be underestimated. Metaphors such as Mother Earth and virgin forest are some proofs of this. But the mentality behind this could also be traced to the association of women with the practical or natural side of life: giving birth, raising children, caring for the sick and dying, eating and sex. Unfortunately these are the undervalued dimensions of life, hence, women and nature have also been undervalued. 

Recently, a series of disasters and calamities hit various Asian countries (not to mention those that hit other parts of the world). These have raised many theological and ethical questions among the people – including how to deal with these issues for the sake of the victims and the survivors. All the more, many of us in the Asian Women’s Resource Centre for Culture and Theology felt the need to articulate women’s reflections on these realities and to share stories of how women are surviving. 

We are thankful to our contributors, who include survivors of some of these calamities or disasters. One striking thing about these women survivors is that they have claimed healing and have become agents for the healing and rehabilitation of other victims and survivors. Others are advocates of ecofeminism who have incorporated their passion and commitment in their work with women, justice, peace and integrity of creation, in their work in the academia, civil society, or the ecumenical movement. 

We are also grateful to the network of youth and students in Asia that has put out a timely liturgical guide on a similar topic and which has allowed us to reproduce some of their materials – a liturgy, some poems and other creative expressions. 

May this edition of In God’s Image inspire our readers in Asia and elsewhere to promote the cause of ecofeminism, through reclaiming our God-given mandate to care for God’s garden, which has been entrusted to us.

Publications Secretary

If articles listed in the table of contents interests you, and you would like to have a copy of this journal, please write to igi@awrc4ct.org.