Gender Equality and State Environmentalism

This week’s reading written by Nogaard and York brought me back to the beginning of the semester when we read about how women were strongly affected by environmental degradation. Their theories in this essay reflect on how environmental politics neglect gender. The data taken from many countries around the world shows the relations between the number of women in parliament compared to the support for the number of environmental treaties that were passed. As we have learned women and nature have been oppressed and dominated by the patriarchal system for centuries. Due to the domination of nature by men, the women are the ones who mostly left to suffer from the damages of the environment. People fail to notice that gender strongly affects politics. Nogaard and York explain reasons why countries with more gender equality are more likely to protect the environment. “This research indicates that women are more likely than men to express support for environmental protection and that women consider a variety of environmental risks, from nuclear power to toxic substances, to be more serious than do men. (York 508)”   Women are known to be more caring for the environment not only because they are natural caregivers but there has been research to show that women make up 60 to 80 percent of environmental organizations. Therefore if women were more often in positions of power specifically in Parliament, it would be more likely that environmental treaties would be ratified. “We consider the percentage of women in Parliament as a key indicator of a nation’s gender politics. (York 511.)” In the reading they take two modernized countries -Norway and Singapore. Norway had very high representation of women in power and had ratified 13 out of the 16 treaties. Whereas on the other hand in Singapore women held a very small role in Parliament and only ratified 4 out of the 16. All the data and research shown shows the impact women can have on influencing state policies and therefore state environmentalism. “The results of our analysis suggest that gender differences in environmental concern , risk perception and social movement participation may have broader social implications, such as potentially influencing state policy. (York 514)”

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2017/03/womens-political-parity-slow-to-grow-as-un-launches-latest-women-in-politics-map/

I choose this first source above because it shows a colorful map of the world indicating women in different ranks of power in politics. It shows women who are the highest head possible, women who are speakers in parliament as well as women who are prime ministers. In the York and Nogaard essay they say  This relates strongly to the article because it talks of how if more women had political power more environmental treaties would be passed. Not only that the environment would be more cared for and risks regarding the environment would be addressed. These results are from 2017 and below they mention that the women representation in politics globally has gone down a bit. It is important to try and keep women in power more often. “Increased representation of women in government might be expected to influence the behavior of nation states with respect to the environment.( York 509)

https://buzzonearth.com/dr-gro-harlem-brundtland-mother-of-sustainability/

I choose this second source because I was quite inspired after reading about Gro Harlem Brundtland. I had never heard of her before but when I did more research on her I learned she was known as the ““mother” of sustainable development.” I believe she is the perfect example to show that women in politics affect state environmentalism. She was the prime minister of Norway for ten years. This source talks about Bruntlands life and all she has done for Norway regarding positive change and influence of the environment. “Gro Harlem Brundtland, probably one of Norway’s most popular and influential political leaders in recent times. (York 516)” She cared not only about the citizens of Norway but about their future generations. 

(Sorry it is so blurry, not sure why! Please click linkbelow to see better image!)

https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/gender-differences-in-public-understanding-of-climate-change/

I choose this statistic because it clearly shows the gender difference regarding the damages happening to the environment. In the reading they mention that women are more likely to acknowledge and care about risks happening to the environment. Women also are more concerned about harming others as well. Global warming is one of, if not the biggest problem happening to our environment. This illustration shows that women understand and believe in ALL the risks happening to the environment over men. “Consistent gender differences have been noted in the related areas of values and attitudes toward the environment, perception of environmental risks and social movement participation.(York 508)”