Many writers regard community care as the interface between public and private domains. Women generally view community care as involving their private family capacities and their public capacities as professionals in health and social service organizations. In particular, organizational responses to gender and sexuality are critically important. The categorization of women is discussed in the context of public and private domains, and the author contends that such categorization plays a significant role in the fields of mental health and community care. The work of Foucault in conceptualizing power and social practices is reviewed. 54 references