An Introduction to Ecofeminism: Alternative Ecofeminist Readings of Diling-a-DiLing and Two Friends

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Europa-Universität Flensburg; Yazd University

Abstract

After a pioneering attempt in introducing the tenets of ecofeminism in Persian, I will contend that this critical approach can facilitate a novel understanding of Persian literary tradition by reading two works of children’s literature. Ding-a-Ling written by Zohreh Parirokh and illustrated by Lisa Jamileh represents a traditional depiction of the woman-nature relationship through succumbing to several of its biases. A similarly traditional outlook is also governing the relationship between the text and illustrations where the latter slavishly follows the details of the former without introducing any digressions. According to both the text and illustrations, the relationship of a mother, her daughter and nature, that is to say the human-nature rapport, is geared toward the subordination of nature, while maternal and feminine qualities as traditionally conceived are attributed to nature and women. Hoda Hadadi’s Two Friends, on the contrary, takes a very different approach to conceptualizing the woman-nature relationship. This alternative perspective is also evident in the creative and interactive relationship between the text and illustrations. Two Friends employs various natural elements including leaves and seeds to create the collage of its illustrations. The woman-nature relationship does not seek domination over nature and is not merely founded upon anthropocentrism. Instead, it reinforces the woman-woman relationship, and foregrounds body, emotions, passions and such abstract notions as love.  
 
 

Keywords

References

پریرخ، زهره. (1382). دیلینگ دیلینگ. تصویرگر لیسا جمیله برجسته. تهران: انتشارات مدرسه برهان.
حدادی، هدا. (1386). دو دوست.  تهران: شباویز.
ذکاوت، مسیح.  (1390). «درآمدی بر بوم‌نقد». نامه نقد. به کوشش محمود فتوحی، تهران: خانه کتاب، صص 675-695.
رضی، احمد و حاجتی، سمیه. (1390). «تحلیل نشانه‌های ارتباط غیرکلامی در داستان دو دوست». مطالعات ادبیات کودک، دوره‌ی 2، شماره‌ی 1، صص 91-114.
عنایت، حلیمه و فتح‌زاده، حیدر. (1388). «رویکردی نظری به مفهوم اکوفمینیسم». مطالعات جامعه‌شناسی، دوره‌ی2، شماره‌ی5، صص 45-64.
Buell, Lawrence. (2005). The Future of Environmental Criticism: Environmental Crisis and Literary Imagination. Cornwall: Blackwell.
Cuomo, Chris. (2002). “On Ecofeminist Philosophy.” Ethics and the Environment 7.2: 1-11.
De Beauvoir, Simon.  (2008). “The Independent Woman.” The Cultural Studies Reader. 3rd ed. Ed. Simon During. London and New York: Routledge. 337-357.
Field, Terri. (2000). “Is the Body Essential for Ecofeminism?” Organization & Environment 13.1: 39-60.
Gaard, Greta. (2009). “Children’s Environmental Literature: From Ecocriticism to Ecopedagogy.” Neohelicon 36: 321–334.
Garrard, Greg. (2004). Ecocriticism. London and New York: Routledge.
Glazebrook, Trish. (2002). “Karen Warren’s Ecofeminism.” Ethics & the Environment 7.2: 12-26.
Kunze, Peter C. (2014). “Winnie-the-Conservationist: Tuck Everlasting, Ecofeminism, and Children’s Literature.” The Lion and the Unicorn 38: 30–44.
Tong, Rosemarie. (2009). Feminist Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction. Colorado: Westview Press.

Twine, Richard T. (2001). “Ma(r)king Essence-Ecofeminism and Embodiment.” Ethics & the Enviornment 6.2: 31-58.

Zekavat, Massih. (2010). “Evolution of the ‘Subject’: Postmodern and Beyond.” EESE: Erfurt Electronic Studies in English. June 4, 2011.       http://webdoc.sub.gwdg.de/edoc/ia/eese/artic210/zekavat/4_2010.htm
--------------. (2015). “An Ecocritical Reading of Saʿdī’s “The Mocaddamah; or, Introduction to the Gulistan of Shaikh Sadi”.” Persian Literary Studies Journal. 4.5-6: 23-38.
 

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 09 February 2017
  • Revise Date: 18 June 2017
  • Accept Date: 10 July 2017

Share

How to cite

Statistics