Feminist Ethics

Question 1

What are the feminist critiques for other ethics?

Answer 1

1. Show less concern for women issues
2. show less concern for private spheres (household, childrearing etc)
3. Imply that women are less morally mature
4. Overrates masculine traits while underrating feminine ones
5. Favour male ways of moralizing over female ways

Question 2

What are Kholbergs ethical stages?

Answer 2

1. Young children do as told to avoid punishment
2. children help others only if they get helped first
3. Adolescents adhere to social norms to get approval
4. Adolescents develop a sense of duty and defer to authority to gain respect and admiration
5. Adults adopt a utilitarian perspective - do as you please but don’t hurt others
6. Adults develop a universal Kantian ethical perspective

Question 3

What are Gilligans Stages of Ethics?

Answer 3

1. Overemphasize self interests
2. Overemphasize others’ interests
3. Weave together self and others’ interests

Question 4

What form of ethics does stage 3 of Gilligans ethical stages form?

Answer 4

Level 3 = Relational Caring, Creates Care Focused Feminist Ethics

Question 5

What is Care Focused ethics?

Answer 5

We should be guided by the relationship between a nurturing person and a child rather than the relationship between two rational contractors. (This is the guiding moral principle)

Question 6

What are two criticisms/problems about care focused ethics? (hint: can you care too much?)

Answer 6

If you care about someone no matter what they do or if you care about someone and it is unreciprocated

Question 7

What is distorted care?

Answer 7

If caring is forced or demanded

Question 8

What is the relationship between justice and care?

Answer 8

Justice cannot exist without care but care can exist without justice thus care should be more important,

Question 9

What is status focused feminist ethics?

Answer 9

Act to challenge interlock systems of oppression

Question 10

Within status focused feminist ethics there are three types what are they and what are the differences?

Answer 10

Liberal: Basic issues like career options and equal pay for equal work
Radical: Need to go further to control the system of objectification
Postcolonial: Oppression is not single-tracked, need to include class, race, sexuality, age etc which form interlocking systems of oppression.

Question 11

What is the moral principle for status feminists?

Answer 11

Right actions are those that challenge interlocking systems of oppression