Carol Gilligan

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Carol GilliganIn a Different Voice -Womens
Conceptions of Self and Morality. (1977)

• Gilligan Kohlbergs Theory based on male
  notions of fairness, justice.
• Because of Kohberg, women are seen as lacking
  the objectivity and independence of judgement
  to make high level moral decisions. Most women
  arestuck at Level Three by trying to please
  others, avoiding hurt. Gilligan Failure of
  development.

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GILLIGAN
In Kohlberg, Higher Levels are biased toward
males. The focus on individualism, autonomy,
objective justice, upholding rules, and other
relative concepts is culturally biased toward
males. (e.g. Stage Six is highly abstractMaking
decisions separate from the group!) MALES
The JUSTICE Voice.
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In contrast, Gilligan says that women base their
morality on social embededness..
caring compassionintimacy interpersonal
relations avoiding hurtWOMEN The
Interpersonal Voice

• csdf

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Gilligan hated Kohlbergs way of collecting data.
NOT REAL LIFE! She used Qualitative Data
(interviews) with REAL people for a richer sense.
Central focus on real life .. Initial
StudyAbortion decision study (29 subjects who
were in crisis referred for counseling). Later
studiesCollege student study (25 subjects
followed up after 5 years) Rights and
responsibility study(36 males and females
interviewed) Initially used Kohlbergs stages,
but found women didnt respond within his model
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GILLIGANS LEVELS1. LEVEL ONE Individual
Survival2. LEVEL TWO Self Sacrifice and
Social Conformity 3. LEVEL THREE Morality of
Non-violence (Caring)
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Her theories somewhat parallel Kohlbergs.but
the primary differences are 1. Methods
(qualitative)2. Her subjects (females)3. Her
conclusions doing no harm as the highest
conclusions (e.g. Malcolm X would be at
Kohlbergs Level sixhis universal notion of
truth was that of EQUALITY (but to get that
equalityhe advocated violence.) Gilligan says
women would not do this. Political impact If
more women in power - we wouldnt have the wars
we do.
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REACTION TO GILLIGAN?1. Some feminists loved
it (finally a focus on women!!)2. Some hated
it (just reinforces the stereotypical female
roles) 3. Undeniably influential
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GENDER DIFFERENCES Video Reviving Ophelia
Saving the Lives of Adolescent Girls
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OTHER STATS about GENDER in Education
Essay Question Handout Girls Rule!
Mythmakers to the Contrary, Its Boys who are in
Trouble.
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PROMOTING MORAL DEVELOPMENT1. Classroom
Community 2. Peer Group Work3. Democratic
Classroom (but authoritative)4. Rationale of
Rules Procedures5. Scaffold - Discussions or
Role Plays to promote new perspectives 6. Teach
Feelings (Empathy) 7. Modeling morality
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PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENTErik Erikson
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