An ecofeminist reading of salwa bakr's "thirty-one beautiful green trees" and "worms at the flower garden"

Abstract EN

Ecofeminism combines ecology and feminism in one movement to show the positive relationship between women and nature.

The more empowered women become, the better nature gets, and vice versa.

In other words, ecofeminism calls for more empowerment of women by analysing the correlation between the negative human impact on the natural world and the oppression of women.

Ecofeminists such as Mary Mellor, Greta Gaard, Carolyn Merchant, among others, conclude that both nature and women are exposed to many kinds of violence in patriarchal societies.

Thus, in order to free nature, we need to empower women first.

Since ecofeminism is not only a theory but a way of life as well, literature is one of the most suitable medium to convey its message.

The aim of this paper is to show how literature mirrors the message of ecofeminism.

By reading Salwa Bakr's two short stories, "Thirty-one Beautiful Green Trees" and "Worms at the Flower Garden", the researcher believes that Mary Mellor's ecological point of view would be applicable.