You take your place next to an elderly patient who is explaining his theory of moral development in children. He states, “Education progresses in stages: 1) a basic focus on the self where morality is governed by punishment and reward; 2) group attachments through family and friends where conventional standards set morality; 3) higher levels using rationality to follow a social contract; and finally to 4) an orientation towards universal ethical principles founded on justice and reciprocity. My studies reveal that females are rarely able to get past the lower stages of good-boy/nice-girl classifications whereas males more readily achieve the higher orders of universalized and principled thinking,” the patient explains.
“But Lawrence,” Dr. Gilligan responds in an impatient voice, “Your study is completely based on a biased model. For a woman, morality develops in a different way because she sees herself as a person within relationships. When confronted with moral issues, she is concerned with maintaining these relationships and is concerned for others. Women respond to a ‘different voice’ that speaks to care and personal attachments. Your model doesn’t account for this. There should be two models: one that measures ethics in terms of liberal justice, autonomy, and independence and another focused on a caring perspective where relationships, responsibilities, and emotions are predominate. Neither approach is superior; rather each useful in its own way.”
“Dr. Gilligan,” the patient rejoins, “Don’t you think that your theories have their own gender bias?”
“I don’t know about that. I would say that the ‘different voices’ individuals hear are based more on personal outlook rather than gender. Yet, men and women are socialized differently, so perhaps the care based voice resounds more with women rather than men.”
Just then another doctor enters the room to begin your check up.
