Gender and Energy Transition: Case Studies from the Upper Silesia Coal-mining Region

Description

This volume takes an ecofeminist perspective in analysing societal changes related to energy transition, with a focus on Upper Silesia in Europe, following the closure of coal-mining industries in the region. It provides both a macro and micro view of how energy transition in societies built around an energy industry can lead to major shifts in societal and familial dynamics, and how women locate themselves in this transition period affecting the economy as well as social and environmental structures and values. Densely populated Upper Silesia in southern Poland, with one of the longest histories of industrialization, extractivism and environmental degradation in Europe, can be considered as a microcosm of regions that have undergone such changes due to energy transition. The traces of telling socio-economic changes, as well as the tangle of modernity and conservatism, are both clearly visible in the local region and society. The book documents the Silesian changes and highlights the female perspective: their culture, identities, as well as empowerment and the agency. The paradigm of feminist and masculinity studies helps in presenting the complexity and the challenges of the just energy transition. This is a topical volume, given that many regions of the world are undergoing similar changes, and is an interesting read for decision-makers, policy experts, environmentalists, as well social scientists who study issues related to sustainability and environmental/societal challenges in energy transition. Preface Contents Women´s Agency in a World of Flux: On Silesian Energy Transition Women and Energy Transition in Upper Silesia: An Introduction About Silesia: A ``Black Gold´´ Region Industrial Silesia and the Green Deal A Gender Gap in the Energy Transition Process More Theoretical Inspirations Women in Silesia: The Structure of the Volume Conclusion References Part I Ecofeminism and Social Reproduction: Towards Subsistence Economies Introduction: Ecofeminism of Subsistence Ecofeminist Genealogies The Myth of Mother Earth and Catch-Up Development Conclusions: Towards Ecofeminist Reproduction of Life References A Morphogenetic Approach to Social Aspects of Energy: The Case of Coal Energy Research and Social Theory Distinctive Features of the Morphogenetic Approach Coal as a Precondition of Industrial Modernity Semi-Social Structures: Material, Technology, Environment Morphogenetic Elaboration in the European Coal Heartlands Social Structure Conditions: Explicit, Implicit, Latent Steps Towards a Comprehensive Research Strategy References Women Engendering the Just Energy Transition Introduction The Gender-Energy Nexus: A Policy Perspective The Gender-Energy Nexus Enabling Conditions to Engender Energy Transition Women as Change Agents in the Energy Transition Gender Just Energy Transition Conclusion References Part II Cultural Identity of Upper Silesia. The Difficult Relationship Between National and Regional Culture Why the Upper Silesians Could Be Considered as Cultural Minority? Historical Background of the Relations Between Regional and National (German and Polish) Culture in Upper Silesia Institutional Aspects of Cultural Domination in Upper Silesia The Process of Institutionalisation of Regional Consciousness and Its Impact on Inter-Ethnic Relations in the Contemporary Upp... Between the ``Open´´ and ``Closed´´ Vision of Regional Culture. Unsolved Dilemmas? References Restructuring of the Mining Sector in Silesian Voivodship from the Gender Perspective Restructuring in the Gender Perspective On the Specifics of the Restructuring of Silesian Voivodship The Restructuring Policy Towards the Coal Mining Industry and Gender On the Effects of Restructuring in the Experience of Women Dismissed from Mining Companies Women in the Mine After the Restructuring of Mining In Conclusion References Place of Professional Work in the Life of Silesian Women Introduction The Concept of Changes in Ronald Inglehart´s Value System: Application to Empirical Research The Value of Work and Employee Roles of Silesian Women: Socio-historical Analysis Contemporary Silesian Women and Their Professional Work Methodological Grounding of Research Female Professions: Male Professions. Are They Still Stereotypically Perceived? Professional Work of Silesian Women and Income Contributed to the Household Work Motivation and Satisfaction Socio-occupational Mobility Conclusions References Transformations of Female and Male Models in Post-mining Communities Introduction Comments on Methodology and Theory Reconstructed Femininity Modified Traditional Femininity Modern Femininity Reconstructed Masculinity Traditional Masculinity Modified Traditional Masculinity Modern Masculinity Summary References Part III Silesian Women´s Situated Identity and the Question of Subjectivity: The Power of the Past and Promise of the Future Introduction The Historical and Cultural Landscape ``Situated´´ Subjectivity: Between Tradition and Modernization To Be or Not to Be a Silesian Time-Pattern of Subjectivity: Positioning Toward the Change Position A. The Past: Full Rootedness in the Local (Family) Tradition Grants a Strong Sense of Agency Position B. The Present: A Lack of Rootedness in the Local Tradition Limits Access to Many Dimensions of the Social Reality Position C. The Future: A Lack of Rootedness in the Local Tradition Lends the Possibility of a Supra-regional Identity Conclusion: The Re-imagined Female Community References Green and Black Silesia: Environmental Awareness of Women in a Coal Mining Region Introduction Environmental Protection and the Perception of Change Green Silesia: Discursive and Practical Environmental Awareness Black Silesia: Coal as a Polish Taboo Polish Energy Strategy and a (Just) Energy Transition Our House Is on Fire: Ecological Feminism Revisited? Conclusion References Heated Attachments to Coal: Everyday Industrial Breadwinning Petro-Masculinity and Domestic Heating in the Silesian Home Introduction Industrial Breadwinning Petro-Masculinity: Coal´s Historic Enrolment in Patriarchal Domestic Authorities and Affections Industrial Breadwinning Petro-Masculinity´s Instability and Decline Labours of Dignity and Care: Coal, Coal Stoves, and Protecting Industrial Breadwinning Petro-Masculine Self-Worth Conclusion: Anti-Ecological, Industrial Petro-Masculinist Populism to the Rescue References Index