'Wannabe Toxic-Free?' From precautionary consumption to corporeal citizenship. Issue 2 (4th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scott, Dayna Nadine; Haw, Jennie; Lee, Robyn
• Is Part Of: Environmental politics. Volume 26:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 322
• Page End: 342
• Publication Date: 2017-03-04
• Subjects: Precautionary consumption -- toxics -- environmental health -- corporeal citizenship -- material feminisms -- ecological citizenship; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Green movement -- Periodicals; 333.72
• DOI: 10.1080/09644016.2016.1232523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-4016

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Ecological citizens are increasingly encouraged to adopt 'precautionary consumption' – a set of practices aimed at shielding them from the potential health harms of exposures to everyday toxics. The utility and the effects of precautionary consumption in relation to common chemical exposures are investigated. Precautionary consumption is not only of questionable utility, but is fundamentally misguided as an approach for inspiring antitoxics organizing. The failure of this approach is in part due to its assumption of a naturally bounded, autonomous individual who is able to maintain an impermeable boundary between herself and the environment. Drawing on the work of material feminist theorists, it is argued that Gabrielson and Parady's notion of corporeal citizenship, an approach that places bodies into a complex web of material, ecological relations entangled with the social, offers several strategic advantages for framing resistance strategies.