From Personal Health to Planetary Care: Women's Activism and Toxicity Narratives in Uruguay and Catalonia

In the context of planetary health, this paper explores how women in rural communities in Catalonia and Uruguay articulate their personal health experiences alongside a broader critique of toxic modernity. Through qualitative analysis of narratives and healing practices, it becomes evident that these women confront challenges related to environmental toxicity while emerging as activists advocating for ecological justice. The notions of toxicity—both in their abstract and literal senses—intertwine with their discourses on health, leading to collective practices aimed at remedying both individual well-being and the health of the planet.

Spirituality, understood as an active and dynamic relationship with nature, emerges as a crucial motivator in their activism. Women adopt a holistic approach that integrates individual healing practices with collective efforts for ecological well-being. Furthermore, these women engage in a subversive exercise that challenges hegemonic scientific epistemologies, opening space for imagining alternative futures. By exploring these interactions, this presentation will contribute to the discussion on the role of spirituality in health and environmental activism, emphasizing how these women generate alternative interpretations of planetary health beyond biomedical models.