Degrowth from a feminist, transrational peace perspective

• Autores: Marisol Bock
• Localización: Fòrum de Recerca, ISSN-e 1139-5486, Nº. 24 (XXIII Jornades de Foment de la Investigació en Ciències Humanes i Socials), 2019, págs. 21-22
• Idioma: inglés
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  • We are facing multiple global interlocking crises in the economic, ecological and social realms. Sustainable economic degrowth recognizes the hegemonic economic growth paradigm as a key problem. As a solution it aims to promote a just downscaling of the economy, from interdisciplinary perspectives. While equality is a crucial component for degrowth advocates, the movement lacks an engagement with feminist theory. This work seeks to identify how feminism might enhance and promote the degrowth movement. The present study provides theoretical examination of the overlapping fields of degrowth and feminism as well as related areas, from a peace perspective by engaging in conceptual analysis, deconstruction and critical thinking. The peace perspective includes a notion of epistemological shift coined by Martínez Guzmán (2001) and links with transrational peace research by Dietrich (2016). The results of the analysis show that capitalism is dependent on economic growth, yielding patriarchal features. Feminism, which promotes the abolishment of patriarchy is a plural, heterogeneous movement whereby the pursuit and promotion of individual choices prevails, turning the overall canon of feminism into a neo-liberal market of ideas within the growth paradigm. I propose that a feminism useful for the degrowth context should 1) pursue gender equality, 2) recognize the deeplying cultural roots of patriarchal violence, 3) consider intersectionality 4) have an awareness of the parallels between oppression of women and oppression of nature. From a transrational peace perspective, a parallel between patriarchal features in the economic logic based on scarcity and the oppression of women can be seen, considering the significance of feminine and masculine principles as described by adjacent fields of study. In conclusion, degrowth may be enhanced and promoted by adopting a growth-critical ecofeminist, transrational perspective. Open research lines include testing the applicability of such insights in the practical realm.