This chapter examines how the meaning of “intimacy” has evolved and narrowed since the late eighteenth century, shaped by distinctions between private and public spheres (Arendt in The Human Condition, University of Chicago Press, 1958). These distinctions, often linked to economic and gender divides, have been critiqued by queer, feminist, and postcolonial theorists for reinforcing gender inequalities, narrowing political perspectives, and obscuring power dynamics within the private realm. Intimacy, inherently complex and personal, encompasses emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical closeness. Yet, it is also influenced by external factors such as social norms, legal systems, public ideologies, and language. This complexity underlies the feminist assertion that “the personal is political,” highlighting intimacy’s broader societal implications and its role in social change.