1 Introduction

French ecofeminism was proposed by Fran ç oise de Opigny, aiming to analyze the way women and nature survive from an ecological and feminist perspective, and explore gender roles. Although its ideas did not resonate in France at the time, ecofeminism rapidly spread and was applied in other countries such as the United States and Australia. De Oponi's theory and Rachel Carson's environmental thought exhibit similarities in criticizing the predatory exploitation of nature by modern industry and capitalism, as well as focusing on the objectification and dual oppression of women and nature. After the new century, ecofeminism received renewed attention in France. Despite facing challenges from political party struggles and the development of factional forces, its influence continued to grow, and more and more scholars began to study relevant theories to promote the development of localized ecofeminist movements.

2. Tracing the Origins of French Ecological Feminism

Ecofeminism (é cof é minisme) originated in 1972, first proposed by French feminist philosopher de Opigny, who linked men's exploitation of nature with their oppression of women, believing it to be the root of modern ecological crises. De Oponi's ideas blend Simone de Beauvoir's feminism with Moscovici's political environmentalism. In "The Second Sex," Simone de Beauvoir explores the relationship between men and nature, as well as the role of women under patriarchy. Moscovich believed that nature is a social construct rather than independent of society, emphasizing the identity between humans and nature. De Oponi further developed ecofeminism, believing that the ecological crisis stems from men's invasion of the weaker parties in power, advocating for gender equality and addressing the ecological crisis from a diverse perspective of values. She conveyed through the science fiction novel "Revelation of the Shepherd Girl" that gender revolution should go beyond a single gender perspective, advocate for pacifism and non violence, in order to achieve the rational use and development of nature.

3. Cross cultural development of French ecofeminism

Under the mutual influence of ecology and feminism in France in the 20th century, the concept of ecofeminism was proposed by de Oponi, but it was not widely accepted. Feminist writers such as Xavier Gautier emphasize the dual threat of patriarchy to ecology and women by exploring the relationship between witches and nature. Differential feminists explore the connections between literature, the body, nature, and ecology, while Anna Marie de Vilaine believes that women are better suited for managing nature. Members of the Sirkut Environmental Protection Community Research Center oppose nuclear weapons and emphasize the role of women in a peaceful environment. French ecological activist Bris Lallon pointed out that ecology, feminism, and nonviolent movements attempt to separate humanity from the world of production and masculinity, but lack a unified political group. Philosopher Luc Ferri criticized deep ecologism, leading to the stagnation of ecocriticism in France. Some feminists are skeptical about the intersection of ecology and feminism, believing that this alliance is incomplete feminism.

The Current Status and Characteristics of Ecological Feminism in France

French ecofeminism defends women and ecology globally, forming multiple branches including spiritual ecofeminism, political ecofeminism, materialistic ecofeminism, ethical ecofeminism, resistance ecofeminism, and postcolonial ecofeminism. Spiritual ecofeminism emphasizes the mystery and spirituality of life forms on Earth, political ecofeminism criticizes social inequality based on social ecology theory, materialistic ecofeminism focuses on the exploitation of resources and labor by capitalist economy, ethical ecofeminism advocates values and resistance ecofeminism opposes biological and nuclear weapons testing, and postcolonial ecofeminism focuses on the relationship between Western colonialism and environmental degradation.

5 Conclusion

Ecological feminism has had a profound impact on the French intellectual community, reflected in the intersection and integration of political theory, social movements, and cultural practices. Its core concept reveals the systematic connection between capitalism, patriarchy, and environmental destruction, emphasizing the interweaving of gender inequality and ecological crisis. Ecological feminism advocates the combination of ecological justice and gender equality, promotes critical reflection and reform of social structures, and plays an important role in issues such as climate change, environmental policies, and social justice. In the political field, promoting the inclusion of a gender perspective in the ecological agenda challenges the traditional notion of separating ecological and gender issues. In the field of social movements, ecofeminism plays an active role in opposing large-scale infrastructure projects, focusing on the environment while emphasizing the protection of women and other vulnerable groups, and calling for structural changes in both social and ecological justice. In the cultural field, artists and cultural groups reflect on the interweaving of nature and social oppression through their works, promoting public awareness of ecological and gender issues. Ecological feminism provides a broader perspective for traditional feminism and avoids the risk of marginalization. It explores gender and world relations from multiple disciplines, and is an interdisciplinary, cross disciplinary, and cross-cultural critique of ecofeminism. French ecofeminism has multiple branches, always focusing on nature conservation and women's rights, seeking equal values. In the context of highly developed industry, alleviating ecological crisis has become a global issue. Ecological feminism promotes broad public participation in environmental protection through theoretical frameworks, raises social awareness of ecological issues, calls for individual action, and promotes critical reflection on systemic oppression such as capitalism and patriarchy. More and more French scholars are devoting themselves to the study of ecofeminism, exploring the deep connection between gender equality and ecological sustainable development.