Landscape, nature and feminism in Willa Cather's My Ántonia

This thesis examines Willa Sibert Cather's My Ántonia from an ecofeminist perspective, focusing particularly on the oppression of women. In general terms, ecofeminism includes the ideologies and movements that connect feminism and ecology. According to ecofeminism, there is a link between women and nature and that environmental exploitation and oppression of women are related. Ecofeminism is opposed to both anthropocentrism and androcentrism. The traditionally feminine values of reciprocity, nurturing, and cooperation, which are present in both women and nature, are seen as an illustration of this relationship by ecofeminists. Women and the environment are also connected because of their shared experience of being oppressed by patriarchal Western society. Earth has been equated with women, while women have been equated with nature. Women and nature have historically been mistreated and devalued. In order to solve this issue, both must be jointly examined, and then a solution must be come up with that liberates both. Race, class, gender, and environmental oppression are all connected and must be fought together. Environmental deterioration and discrimination between women and men will not go away if injustice to women and the environment persists. My Ántonia focuses on the issues related to women and nature. It shows the success of women under difficult circumstances. The success of this pioneer woman gives hope that women can change humanity's future. The novel represents the relationship between human culture and the natural world. In the novel, nature and human coexist harmoniously.