with the emergence of an independent, market-based press, it created a new public engaged in critical political discussion.

The public sphere is an area in social life where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action.  

The public sphere is an area in social life where individuals can come together to openly discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action.

‘Habermas argues that the development of early modern capitalism brought into being an autonomous arena of public debate.’

‘He makes the point that , the public sphere came to be dominated by an expanded state with organized economic interests’.

‘Created a new public engaged in critical political thinking’.

Habermas defined the public sphere as a virtual or imaginary community which does not necessarily exist in any identifiable space. In its ideal form, the public sphere is “made up of private people gathered together as a public and articulating the needs of society with the state”

what is the public sphere vs private sphere

The public sphere is where the free discussion and debate of ideas occurs, where as the private sphere is the realm of family life. Historically, women and people of color have often been excluded from participation in the public sphere in the United States

feminism within the public sphere – Central to the feminist perspective is that men dominate the public sphere whereas women are essentially relegated to the private sphere. This dichotomy has served to entrench the patriarchal system and ensure the oppression of women. For instance, women find it difficult to raise issues that impact upon them