The Feminist at Home

Abstract In this chapter, we revisit the idea that women philosophers who most successfully fought domestic oppression also opposed the idea of the home and family more generally. This chapter asks whether housework, distinct from a patriarchal environment in which women are expected or forced to do it, is necessarily oppressive, and considers positions that aim to reclaim the domestic sphere as one in which women, in particular, may flourish. The conclusion highlights the unusual position of the white middle-class woman in the home, and offers a number of suggestions as to how we may improve the domestic experience for all.