Oil, Gender, and Environmental Security in Black November: An Ecofeminist Perspective

This paper explores the complex interplay between oil, gender dynamics, and environmental security as depicted in Jeta Amata’s film Black November (2012). While prior research has examined the environmental impacts of oil extraction and the socio-economic challenges faced by communities in the Niger Delta, there has been limited focus on the specific contributions and roles of women in advocating for environmental sustainability and community resilience. In this context, this paper aims to analyse how Black November portrays women as active participants in the struggle against ecological degradation and highlights their essential contributions to local ecosystems. By utilising ecofeminism as a theoretical framework, the study aims to uncover the interconnected vulnerabilities that arise from the dual exploitation of gender and natural resources, particularly in the context of oil drilling and its associated debilitating human activities. The findings illuminate the disproportionate impacts of oil extraction on women in the Niger Delta while examining broader health risks and socio-economic disparities that shape the lived experiences of local communities. This research therefore underscores the critical importance of recognising and amplifying the voices of women in the fight for ecological justice, thereby filling a crucial gap in the discourse surrounding gender, environment, oil exploitation, and the urgent need for environmentally and socially just practices.