GILLIGAN - BACKGROUND

Carol Gilligan is a psychologist best known for her innovative views on the development of
women's morality and sense of self, which she detailed in her 1982 book In a Different Voice.

Gilligan developed her ideas in response to the theory of moral development proposed by
Lawrence Kohlberg, which she criticized for ignoring women's perspectives.

The goal of her work was to demonstrate that women don't necessarily stop developing
morally before men do, but that their moral development follows a different trajectory than
that outlined in Kohlberg's theory.

Gilligan conducted several interview studies with girls and women, including one with
women who were deciding whether to have an abortion, in order to flesh out her ideas about
women's morality.
Gilligan has argued that, because of differences in their socialization, males tend to value
principles of justice and rights, whereas females value caring for and helping others

Gilligan views morality as developing among females in a three-stage process. In the first
stage, called “orientation toward individual survival,” females first concentrate on what is
practical and best for them, gradually making a transition from selfishness to responsibility,
in which they think about what would be best for others. In the second stage, termed
“goodness as self-sacrifice,” females begin to think that they must sacrifice their own wishes
to what other people want. Ideally, women make a transition from “goodness” to “truth,” in
which they take into account their own needs plus those of others. This transition leads to the
third stage, “morality of nonviolence,” in which women come to see that hurting anyone is
immoral—including hurting themselves. This realization establishes a moral equivalence
between themselves and others and represents, according to Gilligan, the most sophisticated
level of moral reasoning.
GILLIGAN'S EXTENTION OF STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Gilligan's theory used the same basic three-level outline as Kohlberg's along with two
transitions between the levels.

Pre-conventional Morality

At the pre-conventional Level, moral judgment is entirely focused on the self and the need to
survive. When a conflict arises between the needs of the self and the needs of others, a
woman will choose to address her own needs.

Transition 1

During the first transition from the Pre-conventional to the Conventional Level, the woman
realizes that she has a responsibility to others. It is the first time that she realizes her previous
moral perspective could be characterized as selfish.

Conventional Morality

At the Conventional Level, moral judgment becomes concentrated on caring for others. The
woman starts to see herself as a participant in society whose claim to being a good citizen
relies on helping and protecting others. This concern for others overrides her concern for
herself, leading to a morality focused on self-sacrifice.

Transition 2

During the second transition from the Conventional to the Postconventional Level, the
woman starts to experience tension between the needs of others and the needs of the self. She
begins to realize she must strike a better balance between her needs and the needs of others.

This leads to a shift in moral judgment away from "goodness" to "truth" as she starts to
honestly assess her own desires, not just her responsibility to others.

Postconventional Morality

At the Postconventional Level, moral judgment is dictated by the principle of nonviolence.

The needs of the self are just as important as the needs of others, which causes the woman to
arrive at a universal ethic of care and concern.

Adhering to the obligation of care while avoiding harm or exploitation to herself and others
enables the woman to accept responsibility for her choices.

NOTE

Gilligan didn't identify specific ages when the levels of moral development would be
reached. However, as Kohlberg did with his theory, she noted some women might not reach
the highest level. She also observed that it wasn't life experience that pushed a woman to
higher levels, but cognitive ability and changes in a woman's sense of self.
(all these tables are in the moodle pdf)