At the Frontline of Climate Activism: An Ethnographic Exploration of the Gendered Dynamics Within Contemporary Climate Activist Movements in Ireland

Abstract

Utilising a gender lens, this research explores the dynamics of contemporary climate activism in Ireland. A gendered analysis of climate activism can aid the development of novel understandings of how gender identity and relations inform approaches to tackling the climate crisis. Climate related disasters are increasing in severity and frequency at an alarming rate, resulting in the emergence of new climate movements on a global scale. Broadly, contemporary climate movements aim to hold governments and corporations accountable for climate catastrophe and have played a substantial role in the public push for governments globally to declare a climate emergency. Ethnographic observations followed by semi-structured interviews with members of contemporary climate movements are used to gain insight into how gender is embedded in climate movement identity, participation, and tactics. An ethnographic research approach aligns with previous research studies that commonly deploy ethnographic methods for the in-depth exploration of how gender informs environmental movement activism (Krauss, 1993; Kurtz, 2007; Bell and Braun, 2010; Willow and Keefer, 2015). This research incorporates visual ethnography through photo documentation of the props and banners used during demonstrations. Props and banners can be used by activists as a tool to frame the movements’ identity, motivations and demands and therefore visual documentation and analysis enriches data collection and findings. The theoretical underpinning of this research is informed by feminist interpretations of social movement research, providing a systematic analysis of how social movements are gendered (Kuumba, 2001; Einwohner et al.,2000). This theoretical synthesis combines new social movement theory with ecofeminist theory to develop a distinct gendered analysis of contemporary climate activism.