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A review by wmapayne
Staying Alive: Women, Ecology, and Development by Vandana Shiva
4.0
Vandana Shiva is one of the most prolific writers of the ecofeminist movement, a type of intersectional feminism which links the destruction of women’s traditional role as agricultural producers to both female disempowerment and environmental degradation. In the West, this movement has been criticized as mythicizing women, but you’ll find none of that here. Shiva’s writing is deeply rooted in the struggle of small-holder farmers in northern India and the Punjab, where she grew up, and her proposals are as pragmatic as they are fierce.
“Staying Alive” is a hard book to describe because it is so forcefully articulate, and covers a remarkable breadth of topics. The best word for it is probably “virtuosic.” Building from theoretical critiques of modern development and modern science in the first two chapters, the book enters a discussion of the ways that changes in agricultural practice, particularly GMOs and the “Green Revolution,” have hurt the poor—especially poor women. Shiva’s approach, although an intense criticism of the entire establishment of modern agriculture, is nonviolent—she advocates re-establishing a “feminine principle” in agriculture and development which respects traditional knowledge and develops natural resources over long periods of time. Shiva links these principles to Hindu cosmology, making an argument for a feminine ethos of “Prakrti,” in agricultural production, which respects both traditional beliefs and traditional ecological practices.
Shiva is an activist and a radical, and her work can be challenging to adjust to—it can be easy to perceive some of her claims as overblown, particularly when she discusses her zero-tolerance stance on GMOs, or her wholesale interpretation of science as misogynistic. Some critical thought is helpful when reading these claims. However, Shiva’s overall approach is quite valuable, and is well worth considering. There are major undiscussed problems inside the “progress” of modern development, and there are under-studied alternatives to dominant economic and agricultural practices. Combining elements of feminism, conservationism, and human rights can have a very productive impact on the debate, and Shiva’s perspective is a valuable contribution on the side of small-holder farmers, rural women, and traditional agriculture.
“Staying Alive” is a hard book to describe because it is so forcefully articulate, and covers a remarkable breadth of topics. The best word for it is probably “virtuosic.” Building from theoretical critiques of modern development and modern science in the first two chapters, the book enters a discussion of the ways that changes in agricultural practice, particularly GMOs and the “Green Revolution,” have hurt the poor—especially poor women. Shiva’s approach, although an intense criticism of the entire establishment of modern agriculture, is nonviolent—she advocates re-establishing a “feminine principle” in agriculture and development which respects traditional knowledge and develops natural resources over long periods of time. Shiva links these principles to Hindu cosmology, making an argument for a feminine ethos of “Prakrti,” in agricultural production, which respects both traditional beliefs and traditional ecological practices.
Shiva is an activist and a radical, and her work can be challenging to adjust to—it can be easy to perceive some of her claims as overblown, particularly when she discusses her zero-tolerance stance on GMOs, or her wholesale interpretation of science as misogynistic. Some critical thought is helpful when reading these claims. However, Shiva’s overall approach is quite valuable, and is well worth considering. There are major undiscussed problems inside the “progress” of modern development, and there are under-studied alternatives to dominant economic and agricultural practices. Combining elements of feminism, conservationism, and human rights can have a very productive impact on the debate, and Shiva’s perspective is a valuable contribution on the side of small-holder farmers, rural women, and traditional agriculture.