Ecofeminism in Translation: The Case of Moana

The expansion of the feminist movement so as to include the oppression of nature and animals has led to the rise of ecofeminist theory. Rooted in feminism, sociology, and ecology, ecofeminism asserts that discrimination based on race, class, or gender parallels the oppression of nature and animals. This framework views all forms of oppression as part of a sexist-naturalist discourse. Analyzing this language, which devalues women, nature, and animals, can raise social awareness and contribute to societal transformation. This study aims to examine the connection between women and nature in the animated film Moana (2016a) and analyze how these ecofeminist elements are transformed in its Turkish version. How ecofeminism is depicted in the film Moana (2016a) and how ecofeminist elements are rendered in its Turkish translation are questioned with a descriptive analysis. The film presents a strong female protagonist, the image of Mother Nature, a male character demeaning women, nature, and animals, and a sexist language that renders women invisible. The analysis focuses on the translation decisions made using Lucia Molina and Amparo Hurtado Albir's (2002) translation techniques. The study shows that in its Turkish version, ecofeminist elements are conveyed through various techniques like the use of established equivalent, particularization and linguistic amplification which result in transformations and/or preservation of the ecofeminist perspective. These techniques reflect the challenges of maintaining the ecofeminist perspective in cross-cultural circulation.