From Wise Women to Climate Warriors: The Gendered Nature of Environmental Stewardship

Isabella Brankovic, BSc in History and Politics

Image: Jiatong Jin

Introduction

When cyclone Gorky struck Bangladesh in 1991, women outnumbered men 14 to 1 amongst the dead. This was not because the storm discriminated, but because cultural norms did. Women waited at home for male relatives to return and make evacuation decisions. They had not learned to swim and were expected to maintain purdah (veiled attire), limiting their mobility. Their role as primary caregivers meant they stayed behind with children when the cyclone hit, rather than being able to flee for safety. Thus, this natural disaster uncovered much deeper societal fissures that disadvantage women on an existential scale.

Three decades later, as our planet faces unprecedented climate change, this pattern continues to persist globally. The climate crisis is not purely natural, but often perpetuated by political imbalances in security measures, adaptation infrastructure and participatory mechanisms. The climate crisis is not purely natural, but often perpetuated by political imbalances in security measures, adaptation infrastructure and participatory mechanisms. To understand the climate crisis fully, we must recognize its ties to the gender inequality crisis.

When women spend hours searching for water in drought-stricken regions, when girls drop out of school to help their families recover from floods, and when female farmers lose their livelihoods to desertification, nature is made out to be their enemy. However, this distracts from how environmental catastrophes magnify existing inequalities, especially as cultural norms dictate that the burden of caregiving should rest on women’s shoulders. The world's most vulnerable, predominantly women and girls in developing nations, find themselves on the front lines of a battle they did little to create and are often the least equipped to fight.

Yet, this is not a new phenomenon— the human relationship with nature has long been gendered. Across cultures and centuries, women have been cast as stewards of the earth, connected to its rhythms and responsible for its care. This ancient narrative manifests in myths, religions, and traditions, portraying women as life-givers, protectors, and even sorcerers wielding nature’s secrets. These archetypes continue today, shaping modern environmental movements and, paradoxically, women’s unequal burden in the climate crisis.

Ancient Connections: Witches, Herbal Medicine, and Earth Magic

Historically, women were often the custodians of herbal medicine, intimately tied to the land. In medieval Europe, these “wise women” practised what some might now call alternative or herbal medicine, using their knowledge of plants to cure and nurture. They were the healers of their communities, creating medicine from nature through foraging for roots, flowers, and other herbs.

However, this connection and knowledge of the earth also created a contest over power and control of this information. Women’s control over the knowledge of the mysterious workings of the natural world, threatened patriarchal structures. The result was a cultural shift. As wise women became labelled witches, their understanding of plants and natural cycles was recast as malevolent sorcery. During the witch hunts of early modern Europe, the symbolic link between women, nature, and their threat to order was cemented. Witches, it was said, could control the weather, ruin crops, and commune with the natural forces beyond male comprehension, as seen in tropes throughout contemporary literature, such as the Wayward Sisters in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

The vilification of women as “witches” was not merely a reaction to their roles as healers but a political strategy of marginalisation and suppression. As land enclosures and early capitalist systems disrupted agrarian life, women’s connection to the land became a symbol of resistance. The “witch” became a scapegoat, an embodiment of chaos and disorder in a rapidly changing world.

Guardians of Nature: Myth and Modernity

The image of women as protectors of the natural world, however, is far older than the witch hunts. In Greek mythology, Gaia was the primordial earth goddess, the ultimate life-giver and protector of the planet. In Incan culture, Pachamama (or Mother Earth) was venerated as the source of all sustenance. Across cultures, feminine deities personified nature, fertility, and reincarnation, creating an enduring association between women and the environment. 

These ancient archetypes persist in modern times, albeit reframed. Women continue to be cast as guardians of the earth, whether in their traditional roles as nurturers or in their leadership within environmental activism. Figures like Wangari Maathai, founder of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement, and Greta Thunberg, the global climate justice advocate, are examples of some of these inspiring women. They highlight how women’s unique relationship with nature can manifest in action against modern environmental crises.

The Gendered Burden of Climate Change

The climate crisis has devolved and inflamed since ancient times, and as much as women lead environmental movements, it must be stressed that they are also some of the most vulnerable in facing natural disasters. Women now disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change, often being the primary providers of food, water, and fuel, making them more vulnerable to resource scarcity. Climate-induced displacement and natural disasters further increase their risks of poverty and violence. An especially dire issue is the threat that natural disasters pose to pregnant women, infants and children, with recent COP papers stressing that the problem is a ‘glaring omission’ in response plans across countries.

Today, structural and cultural barriers limit women’s participation in climate decision-making. Globally, women occupy less than 27% of parliamentary seats and are severely underrepresented in international climate negotiations. Yet, their leadership is fundamentally necessary. Research shows that countries with higher female representation in parliament adopt more stringent climate policies. Women’s inclusion is not just a matter of equity; it is essential for effective climate action.

Women are not merely passive victims. Across the globe, women are leading grassroots environmental movements, using their knowledge of local ecosystems to advocate for sustainable solutions. In Indigenous communities, women often take on the role of environmental stewards, preserving biodiversity and championing practices that align with the natural world.

At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Indigenous women leaders actively participated in discussions, emphasizing the importance of integrating Indigenous perspectives into global climate policies. The director of Environmental Advocacy for Ak’Tenamit, Lola Cabnal, highlighted the vital role of Indigenous women in conservation efforts, particularly in promoting sustainable practices within their communities. These women advocated for the recognition and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge systems, which are essential for effective and equitable climate action.

However, it is crucial that in achieving wider meaningful participation, provisions are made on more than a tokenistic basis of representation. The United Nations emphasizes the need to dismantle structural inequalities and challenge cultural norms that perpetuate gender hierarchies and bar women from political participation. Transformative policies, such as ensuring financing for gender-sensitive climate strategies and integrating women’s perspectives into adaptation planning, are crucial steps moving forward. 

Conclusion: Women as Climate Guardians

The narrative of women as guardians of the planet is as old as humanity itself. It has been used to venerate, exploit, and vilify women, reflecting historical attempts to suppress the power and knowledge possessed by women as a method of upholding patriarchal structures. Today, this archetype is both a burden and a source of strength. Women are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, yet their leadership is also most essential in addressing this crisis. From ancient goddesses and herbalists to modern activists and scientists, the labels may have changed, but women’s role as stewards of the earth remains.

This enduring narrative reminds us that solving the climate crisis requires more than technology and policy, it demands a profound cultural shift. By honouring the knowledge, perspectives, and leadership of women, we can draw on the wisdom that has sustained communities for centuries to mitigate the climate crisis in a more meaningful way.