Carol Gilligan's Morality of Care

Question 1

Who is Carol Gillian?

Answer 1

student of Kohlberg

women and men may have differing paths to moral development

believed his theory was biased against females.

females are more likely to prefer Stage 3 (care/relationship orientation of morality)

men more likely to prefer Stage 4 (justice orientation of morality)

Stage 3 = Stage 4

Difference feminism, as her perspective has come to be called, highlights the different qualities of both men and women, but asserts that no value judgment can be placed upon them.

The ethic of care was not designed to replace Kohlberg’s theory of morality, but rather to complement it. In fact, Gilligan has consistently argued that she would like to see psychology “free itself, both in theory and in methods, from the gender binary and the gender hierarchy.”

Question 2

Describe the Ethic of Care?

Answer 2

Pre-conventional, Conventional, Post-conventional

Pre-conventional - goal is self survival

Conventional - sacrifice is goodness

Post-conventional - principle of nonviolence; do not hurt others or self