최시형 사상의 생태여성주의적 특징과 의의 - 자연과 여성의 연결 문제를 중심으로 -

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the ecofeministic characteristics and meanings of Choi Si-hyeong's thoughts focusing on the issue of associating nature with women. Cultural or spiritual ecofeminism connects nature with women to overthrow patriarchy in the West which has underestimated the two and stresses the femininity of nature and also superiority of feminine value. Similarly, Choi Si-hyeong also highlighted the feminine image of nature with the metaphors of mother's “milk” and “womb” and asked people to revere nature and women that had been victimized in history. Choi Si-hyeong's thought about connection between nature and women, however, succeeded to the ecological ethics of Confucianism while criticizing Confucian patriarchy which suppressed women inwardly with the hierarchy of nature grounded on the Yin-Yang theory. In this sense, the background of his thought differs from that of ecofeminism in the West which resisted Western tradition that was both anti-ecological and patriarchal. Because of that difference, many of the criticisms on cultural ecofeminism can hardly apply to Choi Si-hyeong's ideas. First of all, radical feminists in the West severely criticized connection between nature and women calling it as an insult to women; however, to Choi Si-hyeong who transmitted the Confucian notion of revering heaven and earth like parents, association between nature and women was never an insult to women. Next, social ecofeminists criticized cultural or spiritual ecofeminism insisting that they regarded men as enemies stressing women's superiority too much and indulged in idealism extravagantly with keen interest in spiritual things. Choi Si-hyeong, however, asked men to step forward to respect women like Hanulnim, emphasized religious spirituality, and also strongly pursued social reformation to respect the socially weak including ordinary people, women, and children. In short, Choi Si-hyeong's ecofeministic idea is of great significance in that it encompasses both spiritual ecofeminism and social ecofeminism.