Contributions of the concept of body-territory and community feminisms to think about building Healthy and Sustainable Territories

Abstract

This text constitutes a literature review, which presents the path towards building the concept of
body-territory, its connections with community feminism, ecofeminism and decolonial feminism, to discuss
the construction of Healthy and Sustainable Territories (TSS). This concept originates from community mo
bilizations of women of Abya Yala peoples. It has been gradually incorporated by Brazilian Indigenous, Black
and peasant women. The body-territory consists of biological, mental, social and cosmogonic dimensions.
From their bodies and territories, they question the impacts of large undertakings; problematize violence against women and the Earth; problematize sex-gender, class and race inequalities; and denounce situations
that constrain health and their bodies and territories. Through care practices, these women recover their own health and of their community groups and territories, expanding theirs and the collective health. This favors resilience and reparation of the web of life. This female protagonism has been invisible in studies on TSS. Therefore, it is considered essential that these feminist contributions are intersectional in actions to promote TSS.