Exploring Women and Ecology: An Ecofeminist Study of the Writings of Indira Goswami and Sara Joseph

Abstract

This paper undertakes an ecofeminist exploration of select works by Indira Goswami and Sara Joseph, two prominent voices from Assamese and Malayalam literature respectively. Ecofeminism, which foregrounds the parallel oppressions of women and nature under patriarchal structures, provides a critical framework to analyze the intersections of gender, ecology, and culture in these writers’ works. Goswami’s The Moth-Eaten Howdah of the Tusker and Pages Stained with Blood depict the struggles of widows, caste-based oppression, and the ecological devastation tied to socio-political violence, revealing the deep entanglement of patriarchal authority with environmental degradation. Similarly, Joseph’s Gift in Green and Othappu: The Scent of the Other Side interrogate the exploitation of land, water, and women’s bodies in a society shaped by religious orthodoxy and capitalist modernity. By juxtaposing these regional narratives, the paper highlights how ecofeminist concerns transcend geography and culture, offering a comparative lens to understand the shared vulnerability and resilience of women and nature. Ultimately, this study underscores the significance of ecofeminism in re-reading Indian literature as a site of resistance against ecological and gendered marginalization.