Beyond the Binary: Gender Diversity and the Transformation of Environmental Responsibility

सार

The twenty-first century presents pressing challenges in environmental sustainability, with climate change and ecological degradation interacting with social inequalities. This paper explores the role of gender-inclusive perspectives in shaping environmental attitudes and behaviours, extending ecofeminist insights beyond traditional women-centred frameworks (Warren, 1990; Merchant,1980). Drawing on empirical evidencefrom Hampel, Boldero, and Holdsworth (1996), which demonstrates that adolescent girls exhibit higher environmental responsibility than boys even when controlling for socio-economic factors, and the United Nations Environment Programme (2025), which highlights gender-differentiated climate impacts, the study examines how socialisation, gender identity, and normative structures influence ecological engagement. Contemporary research on gender egalitarianism (Echavarren, 2023)further indicates that societies with stronger genderequality norms display higher environmental concern, supporting the integration of intersectional and nonbinary perspectives into sustainability discourse. The paper identifies significant gaps in understanding the ecological behaviours of non-binary and transgender populations and proposes avenues for future research, including policy development, environmental education, and participatory governance. By situating environmental responsibility within an inclusive genderframework, this study contributes to theoretical and practical discussions on equitable and effective ecological stewardship, highlighting the potential of new-age feminism to informsustainable practices and environmental policy.