Emerging Trends

Emerging Trends

Asheville and western North Carolina enjoy a unique emergence and establishment of ecological feminism (eco-feminism), which is based on a belief in an analogous relationship between the well-being of women and the well-being of the Earth, and women's spirituality, sometimes referred to divine feminine and/or goddess spirituality, which crosses religious affiliations. We are also noticing a trend toward feminist entrepreneurialism, which we consider to be a subset of NOW's economic justice agenda. These areas of emergence may be found to create or motivate political awareness and action among women in our area.

To learn more about eco-feminism, we recommend:

• Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring"
• Irene Gerbera's "A Longing for Running Water"
• Janisse Ray's "Ecology of a Cracker Childhood"

To learn more about the range of women's spirituality in the feminist movement, we recommend:

• The Anthology "Womanspirit Rising"
• The Anthology "Reweaving the Web of Life: Feminism and Non-Violence"
• Starhawk's "Dreaming the Dark"
• Jimmy Carter's "A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power"  

A simple Google search will reveal additional, new titles about these emerging issues with feminist movements.

To learn more about entrepreneurial feminism, we know of only one new title, "Materialist Feminism," which may be found on Amazon. Locally, Sherri McLendon's popular column on "Women, Spirit and Money" appears in WNC Woman Magazine (for Women Nurturing Change), which is syndicated and found readily online.