"The dichotomy between the private and the public is central to almost two centuries of feminist writing and political struggle; it is, ultimately, what the feminist movement is about"

... gender. Sex presumes a physical and biological difference, at the natural chromosome level. Gender, however, refers to dimensions built upon the biological, incorporating social, cultural and political distinctions. It is from this point where the sense of what is masculine and feminism is created. In feminist thought, I think an initial challenge has to be made to the definite male bias in views of human nature underpinning the public/private distinction. In liberal theory, the qualities needed for public life and for justice are those qualities associated with the rational, impartial, independent autonomous individual, which a man is supposed to traditionally inhabit. Consequently, women being creatures of the body, emotion, particularity, care and nature are suited to the private sphere, according to liberal-patriarchy. Their role for this has "a foundation in nature," (Kymlicka, 2002, 378). This is an essentially anthropological argument that links women and domestic life to symbolise nature. Feminists ...

"The dichotomy between the private and the public is central to almost two centuries of feminist writing and political struggle; it is, ultimately, what the feminist movement is about" - Discuss.

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