Hostile Worlds Theories: Separate Spheres In The Care Literature

Hostile worlds theories are founded on the assumption of “separate spheres,” which is the belief that intimate relations and economic transactions, or “sentiment and… rationality” (Zelizer, 2010: 270) are separate spheres that should not be mixed in any way. Hostile worlds theorists argue that if these separate spheres come into contact, both spheres become corrupted (Zelizer, 2010). This is where the dichotomy between love and money that is commonly raised in the care literature originates: separate spheres and hostile worlds perspectives believe that in intimate relationships, care is naturally motivated by love and thus should not be paid. Care that is paid, they believe, is motivated by the monetary compensation and not by love or altruism;