Women and Water: An Ecocritical Perspective

Abstract

This article aims to provide an ecocritical analysis, a growing focus within literary theory, to explore the connection between women and water. Ecocriticism examines the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world, offering a perspective that allows literary texts to be interpreted through ecological concerns. This approach is intended to deepen our multifaceted understanding of literature while encouraging critical reflection on ecological responsibilities, particularly related to women and water. The analysis reveals that water is deeply intertwined with cultural constructions of identity, especially femininity. As both a symbolic and physical force, water represents nurturing and destructive qualities that reflect the complex positions women hold within patriarchal and postcolonial contexts. It functions not only as a metaphor for female experience but also as a space of political conflict where bodies, histories, and ecosystems intersect.

Key words: women; water; ecocriticism; femininity; resistance; gender