June 14th, 2013
Arianna collecting elderberry flower by the Klickitat River.
Arianna:
In his article Nature and Gender, Walt sheds light on how interactions with Nature are very much determined by what pronouns are used when it is being referenced - specifically that of the female pronouns "she" and "her".
He expresses that Nature is often considered that of a woman or Mother (Gaia, Mother Earth, etc.) and how this is potentially problematic.
Walt writes, "humanity can no longer afford to indulge in a pattern of thought that leads people to believe that Nature will protect humans the way that a mother bear protects her cubs?."
If we are regarding Nature as female due to our impression that Nature is always nice to us, then we are making a misleading generalization about mothers and females. Additionally, when referred to as being an entity with female qualities and pronouns, Nature is at danger of then being treated as a female entity, which in many cases means being controlled and taken advantage of.
Not all cultures see nature as feminine force.
However, rather than dismissing Nature's innate feminine qualities entirely, I propose that what is needed is a change in behavior towards the earth as well as our fellow females.
I agree with Walt in that it is extremely important to observe Nature as a peer rather than a socialized creature, as the former creates a greater sense of disassociation.
To supplement this while also acknowledging and embracing Nature's feminine qualities would be to change our behavior in order to better our relationship with the world we are part of.
Taking without asking, using without nurturing, consuming without sustaining and the like are not models of a balanced or healthy relationship, whether they are with the earth, or with each other. Nor should they be practiced with an entity that we depend on so highly and are inherently part of.
There are many connections one can make between Nature and the Feminine -connections that I find very important to acknowledge. However, the fact of the matter is that Nature is an unconditional lover and provider that deserves love and NEEDS love in return.
Consenting with Nature -helping to sustain Nature before blindly taking from it- is our inherent responsibility as beings that are innately part of this earth.
In this act we will, by default, be helping to sustain ourselves.