I am excited to share my explorations in feminist philosophy with you through this second blog post! When I first developed The Intersection, I knew I wanted one of my first blog posts to be about Carol Gilligan, an influential psychologist, ethicist, and feminist.
In 1996, Gilligan was recognized by Time magazine as one of America’s 25 most influential people, and she is recognized by many as the founder of the ethics of care, also referred to as care ethics or feminist care ethics. In simple terms, this ethical theory states that moral action revolves around relationships with others and the overall virtue of care. More specifically, Gilligan’s work focuses on how a woman’s morality, in particular, is influenced by interpersonal relationships and consideration about how certain choices will affect other people. This concept differed from prior philosophical thinking, which tended to apply ethics impartially and abstractly, without the context of relationships.
In 1982, her book In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women’s Development was published and sparked conversations about the role of women in the fields of psychology and philosophy. She believes that women’s morals, motivations, and psychological growth have been previously misunderstood, and she strives to shed light on the female experience and correct misconceptions of the past.
I personally found this book as well as her other work to be truly illuminating, and I strongly recommend In a Different Voice to anyone interested in feminism and philosophy! Thank you for reading!
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