Seeking Justice: The subjugation of nature and women as seen through the struggles for environmental justice and reproductive justice in the U.S., 1970-present

Abstract: This thesis aims to gain a better understanding of the modern subjugation of nature and women in the United States, by looking at the recent history of the Environmental Justice Movement (nature) and Reproductive Justice Movement (women). Through examining the history of these movements and relevant politics from 1970 to present day, events can be analyzed to shed light on the current political situation in the U.S., where reproductive freedom and environmental protection are under threat by the Trump administration. Therefore, this study looks at the progress that has been made by the Environmental Justice and Reproductive justice movements, as well as the forces at play that have helped or hindered these movements from making progress, whether political or social. What was found is that conservative alliances, which have formed between members of the liberal elite, Christian right and Republican party, have provided a strong oppositional force to the progressive agendas of both movements. To understand the purpose for such opposition, this thesis looks at potential gains these forces can obtain by taking action against reproductive freedom and environmental projection. With the use of ecofeminism and David Harvey’s theory of “accumulation by dispossession” a presentation of possible gains is made, claiming that dispossession of the following: reproductive rights, access to reproductive healthcare, environmental protection and health, has helped the conservative alliances gain power through political influence. However, in the face of the neoliberal and conservative agendas of these alliances, the movements for Environmental Justice and Reproductive Justice have made significant progress in recent history, leading up to the present.