Ecofeminism, or ecological feminism, a philosophy and movement born from the union of feminist and ecological thinking, believes that the social mentality that leads to the domination and oppression of women is directly connected to the social mentality that leads to the environmental abuse of Earth. It combines eco-anarchism or bioregional democracy with a strong ideal of feminism. Typically its advocates emphasize moving back to small eco-villages of 100 to 140 people, which studies in anthropology argue form historically the most stable and prevalent type of human society. In both the traditional and modern feminist ideal of such villages, women often function as the only landlords or the only land-owners, and property may be inherited only maternally, i.e. in a matriarchy. (Some anthropologists think that in practice traditional cultures were only rarely matriarchal.)
However, because of the extreme convergence between real or imagined historical village societies, eco-feminist ideals and pagan practices, sometimes these projects are seen as a form of primitivism. But this oversimplifies the case, as many feminists see a substantial role for modern technologies (including those invented by men, whom they would welcome as inventors, engineers, traders, and also sperm contributors) in the creation and operation of such villages. Most eco-feminists, for instance, see solar power as a way to stay off 'the grid', which they regard as more important than not relying on poisonous industrial processes or materials. The ecology movement is itself split on issues like this, so it is not central to eco-feminism to debate appropriate technology. However, it is likely that intermediate technology would be preferred in general, if an eco-feminist movement sought to spread into developing nations quickly.
A central tenet in eco-feminism states that male ownership of land has led to a dominator culture, manifesting itself in food export, over-grazing, the tragedy of the commons and a land ethic that amounts to land abuse. The more extreme eco-feminists view colonization akin to rape, and they also have equally harsh things to say about games such as golf or bobsledding that inherently require destruction of ecologies to be 'played' - and were historically played only by men.
Scientists generally dismiss ecofeminism as neither feminism nor ecology; most feminists are not part of the radical fringe, and have heavily criticised the radical and anti-science turn that eco-feminism has taken. Feminist writer Janet Bihel has written:
Ecofeminist writers include: