Separation of Spheres

Separation of the Spheres (public/private; male/female)

In the 18th century and afterwards there was one major belief towards a seperation of male and/or female roles (duties) in society. On the one hand there was the "public sphere" which was generally associated with male duties such as war, money, politics and learning, whereas on the other hand the "private sphere" was linked to female duties such as domestic life. The male duties can also be reffered to as priviledged duties whereas female duties allow a definiton in terms of responsibility in the domestic field. One could also think of a "system of subordination".

By contrasting two literary works. firstly John Ruskin's "Of Queens Gardens" and secondly Stuart Mill's Subjection of Women one is enabled to understand easily the attitudes towards the seperation of male and female spheres. Of Queens Gardens refers to the maintainance of a "system of subordination", however, the Subjection of Women attempts to expose and to break the "system of subordination".

Nature

Article is under construction.

Separation of the Spheres in terms of gender roles. Public Sphere (men dominated) and Private Sphere (women's sector)