Finding the ecofeminist voice in the Palanca winning short stories of Alice Tan-Gonzales

Abstract

This study shows the deep connection of women and nature thru the ecofeminism lens. This pioneering study takes a deeper look into how ecofeminism is illustrated in the Palanca winning short stories of Alice Tan-Gonzales and explains that ecofeminism is a strong subject in her short stories’ <em>Sa Taguangkan sang Duta</em> and <em>Baha</em> specifically anchoring it on spiritual and cultural ecofeminism. This study also theorizes how the value of ecofeminism present within Gonzales’ short stories can help shed light on the female struggle that exists within Western Visayan society, identify the various ecofeminist elements, specifically the characters and the setting in the stories, and illustrate why these are elements of ecofeminism, and problematize on the selected works of Alice Tan Gonzales and categorize her position as a defining writer in West Visayas Literature. The analysis determined that ecofeminism is present within Gonzales’ short stories as illustrated by the characters’ revelation of the current female struggles in the region. Through a thorough discussion, a clear illustration of ecofeminism was achieved. Results of the study revealed that through the characters and setting, and Alice Tan Gonzales’ literary works is undeniably an embodiment of reality that separates her from other writers in the Western Visayan region. This should encourage extensive information dissemination about the real plight of women and nature’s current state to increase awareness and aid in the mitigation of the situation.