44 Planet of the Arts / March 1997 by Leslée Ayley ne of the major focuses of my life is a curiosity about, and a need to understand myself and others. Why do | act, think and feel the way | do? How can | learn to live my life in engagement and harmony with other human beings? This search for understanding has centered on the psychological aspects of being, with a slowly growing awareness of the significant role that culture plays in the development of individuals. As | become more aware of the problems facing our world, problems that are threat- ening the well-being and survival of the individual and the planet, | struggle. Taken individ- ually, these problems are daunting, collectively, they seem overwhelming. No longer able to close my eyes, to pretend the problems aren’t “That serious” or that “they” will come up with solutions, | wonder how my actions can contribute to the solutions, rather than add to the problems. My decision to review Feminism and the Mastery of Nature was influenced by this aware- ness and struggle, by a desire to become informed, to understand how we arrived at our present situation and how we might find our way through it. | was attracted to the logical pre- sentation of information, to the knowledge and understanding of how, as culture, our belief systems have evolved and how these beliefs are implicit in many of the problems facing the world today. | appreciate that the author, Val Plumwood, offers not simply theoretical knowl- edge but outlines attitudes and actions that, if undertaken, may form the basis for solutions. Plumwood states, in the introduction, that one of her goals is to develop a critical ecologi- cal feminism - grounded in theory, a feminist environmental philosophy that can serve as a powerful political tool. She contends that liberal feminism’s demands for equality in our current social and political state, are demands for participation in a culture that is founded on exclusionary ideals; and that radical feminism’s drive to embrace the characteristics and values associated with the feminine and natural, while denying the positive aspects of reason associated with the female domain, perpetuates dualism. The central theme of this text is the concept of dualism and its influence on the construc- tion and evolution of Western culture. Dualism is not simply a dichotomy or hierarchy, but dif- ference, where one side of duality is privileged over the other. This act of privileging one aspect of a dichotomy creates a dominant force that, over a period of time, forms culture and impacts in the formation of identity, and explains why an individual might continue to participate in tne circumstances tnat contripute to tneir own oppression ana aomination. Duality is embedded in our culture and impacts on every level of our existence, within andin- dividual, between individuals, genders, and cultures and races and between humanity and the rest of the natural world. On an individual, personal level we conceive of ourselves as mind and body —- divided, not whole. We privilege our mind, the rational! side of our existence, over our body. We see ourselves as separate from each other and the rest of the world; reason is awarded enormous positive weight. Nature is seen as a resource, as mindless — to be owned, mastered or plundered - and the term “nature” encompasses everything that is outside the human sphere. he domain of reason has historically be aligned with the male human species, while the female is seen as more closely identified with functions that are related to the body and thus the non-rational states are viewed as closer to nature, and therefore, by identifica- tion with “reason,” man is viewed as superior to woman. The construction of duality is typified by attitudes of separation and domination, and it is defined by Plumwood as the “master model.” The willingness to deny dependency on other, to create hyper separation between self and other to objectify the other and to stereotype the other are critical attitudes of a dualistically constructed individual or culture and are character- istic of the master model. The structure of modern industrial societies is based on the master model. Nature is viewed as a resource, as a mere means to human ends. Individuals, corporations and countries struggle for power and control, over themselves, and each other. The concepts of progress and economic growth shape and drive our country’s society. The majority of our population lives in large urban centers with limited opportunity to experience the natural world on a regular, mean- ingful basis. The problems that face us today result from these condi- tions. We are threatened as a planet with environmental disas- ter and nuclear warfare. Poverty and starvation are typical of third world countries while, in contrast, obesity is a major health risk in the first world nations. In industrial- ized nations the unequal alloca- tion of resources continues, many individuals and groups live in poverty, without adequate food, housing or education while the affairs of the nation are driven by private industry and _ typically white, male “ruling” class. Individuals are disenchanted and alienated from themselves and each other and attempt to fill this void with the consumption of material goods. Plumwood proposes, if we are to find solutions to these problems, we must begin by replac- ing dualism with a non-hierarchical concept of difference and reconcile the world by recogniz- ing our connectedness to other life forms — human, animal, and organic. We must recognize kinship and recognize difference and develop a form of observation that is premised on conti- nuity and grants to the world around us its independent integrity, but does so in a way that remains aware of our connection to the world. We must replace the morality of right and wrong with an ethics of responsibility, care, com- iWW) Dialectic Feminism And The Mastery of Nature passion and regard for all things. It is impor- tant to value and retain difference and recog- nize difference as a critical component in the vitality and aliveness of our world. As | continued my research, my goal was to gain a fuller understand- ing of the attitudes, actions and desires implicit in our present situation and how, as individuals and groups, we can create new attitudes and social structures that will result in posi- tive changes for ourselves and the rest of the world. | discovered many articles and text that focused on the challenges facing us today and envisioned a world of harmony, where diversity is celebrated and community and _ connectedness replace consumption. It seems the key element in all the imagined possibilities is the relationship between awareness and action; and the shared belief that we do have the power to transform our situation and to recognize, as Suzi Gablik states in The Reenchantment of Art, “the source of creativity in society is the person.” (p23) The concept of community, and idea | am attracted to, is explored in The Ideal of Community and The Politics of Difference (Young 1990). | envisioned community as a gathering of individuals with shared values and respect for each other, a way of life that recognizes personal responsibility and celebrates connectedness. After reading this paper, | realized that even seemingly positive 44 Planet of the Arts / March 1997 (WW Dialectic Feminism And The Mastery of Nature by Leslée Ayley ne of the major focuses of my life i curiosity about, and aneed to understand myself and others. Why do 1 act, think and feel the way 1 do? How can I learn to live my life in engagement and harmony with other human beings? This search for understanding has centered on the psychological aspects of being, with a slowly rowing awareness of the significant role that culture plays in the evelopment of individuals. [As become more aware of the probleme facing our world, problems that are theest- ‘ening the well-being and survival ofthe individual and the planet, struggle. Taken individ ally, these problems are daunting, collectively, they seem overwhelming. No longer able to close my eyes, to pretend the problems aren't “That serious” ofthat “they” will come up with Solutions, | wonder how my actions can contribute to the solutions, rather than add to the problems. [My decision to review Feminism and the Mastery of Nature was influenced by this aware- ness and struggle, by a desire to become informed, to understand how we arrived at our present situation and how we might find our way through it. was attracted to the logical pre- Sentation of information, to the knowledge and understanding of how, as culture, our belief systems have evolved and how these beliefs ate implicit in many of the problems facing the ‘World today. l appreciate thatthe author, Val Plumwood, offers not simply theoretical know ‘edge but outines attitudes and actions that, if undertaken, may form the bass fo solutions. Plumwood states, n the introduction, that one of her goals sto develop a critical ecologi cal feminism ~ grounded in theory, a feminist environmental philosophy that can serve 35 2 ‘powerful political too ‘She contends that liberal feminism’s demands for equality in our current social and political state, are demands fr participation ina culture that is founded on exclusionary ideals; and that radical feminism’s drive to embrace the characteristic and values associated with the feminine ‘and natural, while denying the postive aspects of reason associated with the female domain, Perpetuates dualism. ‘The central theme of this text isthe concept of dualism and its influence on the construc- ‘ton and evolution of Western culture. Dualism is not simply a dichotomy or hierarchy, but df ference, where one side of duality is privileged over the other. Ths act of privileging one aspect (of a dichotomy creates a dominant force that, over a period of time, forms culture and impacts in the formation of identity, and explains why an individual might continue to participate in Duality is embedded in our culture and impacts on every level of our existence, within andi dividual, between individuals, genders, and cultures and races and between humanity and the ‘est of the natural word. On an individual, personal level we conceive of ourselves as mind and body ~ divided, not whole. We privilege our mind, the rational side of our existence, over our body. We see ourselves as separate from each other and the rest of the world; reason is ‘awarded enormous positive weight, Nature i seen asa resource, a8 mindless ~ to be owned, ‘mastered of plundered ~ and the term “nature” encompasses everyting that is outside the hhuman sphere. he domain of reason has historically be aligned withthe male human species, while the female is een as more closely identified with functions that are related to the body and thus the non-rational states ae viewed as closer to nature, and therefore, by identifica: tion with “reason,” man is viewed as superior to woman, ‘The construction of duality is typified by attitudes of separation and domination, and itis defined by Plumwwood asthe "master model.” The wilingness to deny dependency on other, to ‘reate hyper separation between self and other to objecify the other and to stereotype the ‘other are critical attitudes of a dualistically constructed individual or culture and are character Istic of the master model “The structure of modern industrial societies is based on the master model. Nature is viewed, ‘asa resource, asa mere means to human ends. Individuals, corporations and countries struggle {or power and control, over themselves, and each other. The concepts of progress and economic ‘growth shape and drive our countrys society. The majority of our population lives in large {rban centers with limited opportunity to experience the natural world on a regular, mean Ingful basis. ‘The problems that face us today result from these condi tions, We are threatened as planet with environmental disas fer and nuclear warfare. Poverty {and starvation are typical of thd ‘world countries while, in contrast, ‘obesity isa major health isk inthe first world nations. In industria: ized nations the unequal alloca tion of resources continues, many individuals and groups live in poverty, without adequate fo0d, housing or education while the affairs of the nation are driven by private industry and_ typically White, male “ruling” class. Individuals are disenchanted and alienated from themselves and teach other and attempt to fill his void with the consumption of material goods. Plumwood proposes, if we are to find solution to these problems, we must begin by eplac: Jing dualism with a non-hierarchical concept of difference and reconcile the world by recogniz: ing our connectedness to othe life forms ~ human, animal, and organic. We must recognize kinship and recognize difference and develop a form of observation that is premised on cont rnuity and grants to the world around us its independent integrity, but does so in a way that emains aware of our connection tothe world ‘We must replace the morality of right and wrong with an ethic of responsibility, care, com: passion and regard for al things is impor: fant to value and retain difference and recog, nize difference as a critical component in the Vitality and aliveness of our world ‘S| continued my research, my goal was to ‘gain 9 fuller understand. ing of the attitudes, actions and desires implicit in our present situation and how, as Individuals and groups, we can create new attitudes and socal Structures that wil result in pos: tive changes for ourselves and the rest ofthe world Iicovered many articles and text that focused on the challenges facing Us today and envisioned 2 world of harmony, where diversity is celebrated ‘and community and connectedness Feplace consumption. It seems the key tlement in al the imagined possibilities the relationship between awareness and action; and the shared belie that we do have the power to transform ur situation and to recognize, 9s Suzi Gablik states in The Reenchantiment of Art, “the source of creativity in society is the person.” (23) The concept of community, nd idea am attracted to's explored in The {deal of Community and The Politics of Difference (Young 1980).| envisioned ‘community 2s a gathering of individuals with shared values and respect for each other, a way of life that recognizes personal responsibilty and celebrates ‘connectedness. After reading this pape, ealized that even seemingly positive