FAMILILYHOOD IN PLATO’S FEMINISM AND THE POLITICS OF FEMALE GENDER IDENTITY

Abstract

The question of gender equality has been a perennial concern. Human beings possess different natural capacities in accordance with their dual nature as homo socius and homo politicus. While some argue that these differences imply inequality, others advocate equality, and still others advance an extreme egalitarian position that assumes all individuals are identical and should receive equal life chances. Using the philosophical methods of exposition and analysis, this study explores the contributions of Plato as a pioneer among those who argue for the abolition of the nuclear family as a means of enabling women to function equally with men in society. It also examines the perspectives of Hannah Arendt and Susan Moller Okin, among others, on the question of gender equality. The paper further argues that Plato’s proposal to abolish the nuclear family does not entail the complete elimination of family life, as is often assumed. Rather, it represents a transformation of the private family into a unified collective structure embodied in the state. Supporting this view, the paper draws on the argument of Véronique Mottier, who maintains that the nuclear family cannot be entirely abolished without undermining the very purpose for which it would be replaced, such as a state-run system akin to a well-regulated orphanage. While this study acknowledges that total egalitarianism is largely utopian, it concludes that a more viable approach to addressing gender inequality lies in emphasizing shared human attributes while also encouraging the development of the unique capacities of both men and women.