For a long time, it seemed to me that even though many things in society cannot achieve equality, at least in the face of nature (or when confronted with natural challenges), humans are equal. We must collectively bear the burden of natural crises. For example, the extreme changes in precipitation due to global warming (such as severe droughts or torrential floods), every group in the affected areas must face the challenges and difficulties brought by this "extremity."

However, when I encountered the concept of "ecofeminism," I realized that my understanding was incorrect.

In places I couldn't see, or under possibilities I hadn’t considered, women or other vulnerable groups face unequal challenges compared to more privileged groups (like men) when dealing with natural challenges.

In the book How Women Can Save The Planet, Anne Karpf explains the reasons for this. The book uses diverse examples to directly or indirectly illustrate the inequality caused by environmental changes from multiple angles. For example, Aysha, a girl living in Ethiopia, is only 13 years old but is responsible for fetching water for her family. Every morning at 6:30 a.m., she leaves home and spends more than 8 hours traveling to bring back water, with her only companion being a camel. Such examples of "women being tasked with water-fetching" are widespread in Ethiopia. So when environmental crises intensify and the drought situation worsens, it means Aysha, along with all the other women who fetch water for their families, must spend even more time going farther to get the water. This also means their free time is further stripped away. They need to leave home earlier and return later, extending their time outdoors in the dark, which increases the risk of sexual assault (a potential social danger that already exists). Additionally, they face a higher risk of developing spinal diseases due to carrying heavy water for long periods.

Some statistics: In the 2003 European heatwave, two-thirds of the fatalities were adult women; in the 2014 Solomon Islands flash floods, 90% of the victims were women and children; after the 2015 Nepal earthquake, 3.2 million women and children faced risks of rape, sexual exploitation, violence, and trafficking; during the 2020-2021 floods in Bangladesh, the chaos after the disaster led to local women losing access to contraception, resulting in a higher rate of unintended pregnancies...

These vivid examples all point to the existence and seriousness of inequality in the face of natural challenges.

Is all this caused by the natural environment?

Clearly a “NO”.

The root cause is human society. Women like Aysha bear the task of fetching water due to already established social inequalities, exposing them to greater risks. In the current patriarchal society, women face higher risks when confronting natural challenges.

"Ecofeminism" not only discusses gender inequality in the face of natural challenges but also critiques the oppression of women and nature caused by binary oppositions and explores women's unique perspective on environmental issues. On a daily basis, I cannot directly feel or discuss the authenticity and depth of these theories, so I thought: Could I understand the connection between the two by looking at personal stories of women and nature?

Thus, I traveled to Qingbang Island (a relatively primitive island in the Zhoushan Archipelago compared to towns—it has no formal hospital, school, or large entertainment venues) to understand the purest and most direct connection between local women and nature. After listening to so many vivid and unique personal stories, I thought, "I need to write all of this down so more people can hear their voices and understand the connection between women and nature." And so, this story collection came into being.