Reflection

Reflection

After doing some research on solutions to climate change, I came across a Ted Talk by Katherine Wilkinson that explored the relationship between women’s rights and the climate crisis. The idea is that countries with higher equity are able to address human contributions to climate change. For example, when women are given more control over their reproductive rights and family planning resources such as contraceptives, they are more likely to have less children which can help to reduce populations, the strain on limited resources, and the waste produced. Educated women are more likely to work, which gives them financial stability, and greater access to education means more people become aware of the climate crisis. The battle against climate change starts with the empowerment of historically marginalized groups, because the consequences of suppression harm the health of the planet. I illustrated a bouquet of flowers surrounding the earth, and within them, symbols of women’s rights. There are family planning tools such as condoms, IUDs, and the pill. There’s education represented by the diploma, book, and pencil. The ballot card, flag, and peace sign represent political power in order to address both women’s rights and environmental protection. My piece is centered around this idea that we should look at the climate crisis as more than just the traditional ideas to fight it. While we recycle and strive to eat less meat, we should look at the cultural norms that not only harm women but also harm the earth.