Entre gênero e espécie : à margem teóricas das Ciências Sociais e do feminismo

Abstract

In the western world, renowned thinkers conceived both the ideas of gender and species in a very similar fashion, and used them as tools to reinsure the superiority of the male human. Since the Classical era, through the exaltation of the rationality as the essence of the human spirit, men established dominance over women, animals and the environment. The feminist movement, particularly since the 1970's, began to deconstruct those "truths" of gender as well as their instituted oppressions and hierarchy. Such debate results in the questioning of the ideals of humanity and the relativization of knowledge by understanding affection, experiences and dissident identities. In this context, certainties about what is the human being and what differentiates it from the rest of the existence were questioned, and the animals were definitively included in the gender theory through the animalist ecofeminism of the 1990's. At the same time, in Brazil, two prominent publications arose: "Estudos Feministas" [Feminist Studies] and "Cadernos Pagu" [Pagú Booklets]. This research analyzed the position relegated to women and animals in the western thought regarding a masculinist ideal of humanity; the feminist reaction to this gender/species oppression; and the reasons explaining the non-consolidation, to date, of the animal feminist studies in Brazil. A quali-quantitative analysis of both magazines, Estudos Feministas and Cadernos Pagú -pinnacles of the Brazilian academic thinking -, aiming at mapping the main subjects, gender discussions and theoretical perspectives being evidenced within the country. The results showed that the Social Sciences, women's movements and racial issues are relevant factors for the discussion of gender in this context, while ecofeminism and animal oppression are practically forgotten debates. Concluding, therefore, that in order to improve animal feminist studies in Brazil, non-human animals need a broader participation in the praxis of feminist activism, racial discussions and Social Sciences.

Análise do discurso ecossistêmica e ecofeminismo

“…A partir dos anos 80 e 90, a teoria feminista começou a se expandir de modo que a ideia de gênero fosse pensada além das barreiras de espécie, visto que a oposição criada entre homem-mulher e culturanatureza sustenta outros pensamentos dicotômicos, tais como: humano e animal, espiritual e corporal, natural e social e assim por diante. Dessa forma, questiona-se não apenas a relação opressiva entre os gêneros, mas também o domínio dos seres humanos sobre a natureza e sobre outras espécies, de modo que os argumentos desenvolvidos em prol das mulheres passam a ser utilizados também a favor dos direitos dos animais (Kirjner, 2015).…”

“…Segundo Kirjner (2015), o ambientalismo e a luta pelos direitos animais têm em comum a preocupação com o "progresso", o domínio humano sobre a natureza e os limites do comportamento humano. A autora ressalta ainda que as questões ecológicas e ambientais foram trazidas à tona por mulheres, havendo uma conexão entre aumento do feminino na política e na ciência e ascensão do movimento ambientalista e dos direitos animais nos séculos XIX e XX.…”