In Carol Gilligan's work, what do women prioritize in moral reasoning?

In Carol Gilligan's work, what do women prioritize in moral reasoning?

• A. Relationships and care over justice and rights.
• B. Justice and rights over relationships.
• C. They use exactly the same criteria as men.
• D. They score higher on Kohlberg's Moral Dilemma Test.

Answer: (A)

Gilligan’s work shows that care and relationships often guide moral reasoning. She argued that women tend to base moral judgments on empathy, responsibility to others, and the surrounding relationship context, rather than primarily on abstract rules of justice and rights. This makes the idea that women prioritize relationships and care over justice and rights the best description. The other notions don’t fit Gilligan’s view: she critiqued the idea that women simply use the same criteria as men, and she pointed out that Kohlberg’s framework emphasizes justice, which she felt overlooks the care perspective.

Gilligan’s work shows that care and relationships often guide moral reasoning. She argued that women tend to base moral judgments on empathy, responsibility to others, and the surrounding relationship context, rather than primarily on abstract rules of justice and rights. This makes the idea that women prioritize relationships and care over justice and rights the best description. The other notions don’t fit Gilligan’s view: she critiqued the idea that women simply use the same criteria as men, and she pointed out that Kohlberg’s framework emphasizes justice, which she felt overlooks the care perspective.