We need to talk about the gender gap in environmental activism.

What is the deal with the gender gap in environmental activism?

Disclaimer: I acknowledge that this is a binary discussion of men/women and femininity/masculinity. To date, research has framed it in these terms. Despite this, I believe there is a critical need for this discussion. Let’s also acknowledge that there are some incredible men fighting the fight.

Here goes…Research has shown that women litter less, recycle more, leave a smaller carbon footprint, and generally surpass men in environmental activism. Side note: a majority of my ‘interactors’ on Instagram are women. Studies have tried to figure out what is going on here. Some suggest this is the result of a personality difference between men and women – women being more altruistic – while others claim that environmentalism is attached to being feminine; therefore avoided by men. Indeed, a 2016 study of 2000 American and Chinese participants published in the ‘Journal of Consumer Research’ found this to be the case and recommended making eco-friendly marketing more masculine to counter this tendency. While perhaps this is something to consider, at the same time, do we need to cater to normative masculinity to get men to care and make a better choice? I have a different perspective – we turn to ecofeminism. Sound crazy to fight the fear of being feminine with feminism? Hear me out. Ecofeminism attaches the oppression of all subordinate groups (i.e., women, people of color, children, lower socioeconomic status) to the domination over and degradation of the environment by the patriarchy. From this perspective, it makes sense why women are more attached to the degradation of the natural environment – women have felt this in their own oppression. The good news is that people are waking up to toxic masculinity and institutionalized oppression. I believe if we turn to ecofeminism and attach systemic mistreatment of women to the abuse of our environment within the environmental movement, it could be a way open many hearts and minds (not just men’s).