ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights taken-for-granted aspects of women's lives, a number of feminist philosophers have argued that traditional approaches to ethics and economics have largely ignored provision for people's personal and emotional needs. Cross-culturally, the sexual division of labor in housework and wage work has assigned women greater responsibility than men for the direct care for children, the elderly, and other adults. The chapter outlines a feminist economist's approach to care as a public good and feminist philosopher's approach, and Nancy offers comments and criticisms. It suggests ways that economists and philosophers could more systematically analyze the gendering (and de-gendering!) of human capabilities for care provision, and the chapter concludes with a list of specific questions for further deliberation. Contemporary Western capitalist societies assume a split between the public market values of self-interest and competition and the private family values of caring and sharing.
