Ecofeminism in Octavia Butler's Parable of The Sower (1993) and Doris Lessing's Mara and Dann: An Adventure (1999)

Abstract

The idea of women’s empowerment is one of the most controversial issues all over the globe. It is defined as supporting women's self-esteem, ability to make their own decisions, and right to influence societal change for themselves and others. Female empowerment is frequently associated with distinct eras of the women's rights movement in Western countries. It has a strong relation with issues of gender equality, the right to qualified education, the right to work, and the right to express themselves freely in different fields of life. It is a standpoint against the patriarchal power that negates women’s rights to rule and lead. Women around the world continue to face major obstacles and they are traditionally underrepresented in positions of authority and decision-making. The main goal of women’s empowerment is to get rid of all the taboos relevant to underestimating women’s abilities and limiting them to specific scopes of life, already determined by men.