Green Goddess returns: Batman's Poison Ivy as a symbol of emerging ecofeminist consciousness

The Interdisciplinary field of ecofeminism is based upon the premise that important connections exist between women and non-human nature, and that both have suffered abuses, presently and historically, from people operating from a patriarchal conceptual framework. A large and important part of ecofeminism is ecofeminist spirituality, which departs from Euro-Western, patriarchal, monotheistic religions in its positions on hierarchy and dualistic thinking. Many of the ideals of both ecofeminism and ecofeminist spirituality are embodied in the popular culture figure known as Poison Ivy. She projects the image of the power of women and nature, which includes the powers of death as well as life. Her appearance may qualify as a partial manifestation of the Great Green Goddess archetype from ancient history, and may indicate the start of a revival of a great and widespread reverence for nature.