International Journal of Education & the Arts

Citation: Dronkers, P. (2024). Needling the public/private divide: How to stich a common world to care for. International Journal of Education & the Arts, 25(si1.19). http://doi.org/10.26209/ijea25si1.19

Taking its starting point in the influential work of care ethicist Joan Tronto, this article critically examines the public/private divide within liberal political theory. This distinction not only conceals gendered power hierarchies in private life but also obscures mutual interdependencies from public view. Utilizing Palestinian embroidery as a companion to unlearn this division, the analysis explores three pivotal aspects of the craft. In the production process, the role of women, the voice of the embroiderers, and the treatment of materials and fabric emerge as vital concerns and active sites for change. Regarding curation, public exhibitions emerge as a means of preserving Palestinian cultural heritage but also contribute to the commodification of embroidered goods, challenging the deeply rooted geographical context of the craft. Concerning solidarity, the article elaborates the distinction between the private purchases of embroidered items and collective public action. A care ethics perspective underscores the interconnectedness of the private and public within a shared world. Embroidery becomes a metaphor for weaving a just and caring society, overcoming divisive boundaries.