Lesson 6 - Gilligan's Stages of Moral Reasoning

Presentation of Theoretical Construct

Lecture Information:

Female Moral Development
Level 1	Individual Survival	For Gilligan this initial stage is very similar to Kohlberg's Pre-conventional.  The child is mostly reasoning based on self-centered impact be that punishments or rewards.  They take care of number 1 first.
1A Transition	From Selfishness to Responsibility	This is a significant departure from Kohlberg's theory.  It is, in a way, simply more specific to the way females might consider what makes the perception of themselves to others more positive.  Gilligan would propose that girls at this stage are encouraged to take on more of the family responsibilities, such as caring for younger siblings.  Gilligan would mostly likely make the case that females are encouraged to have a maternal "instinct" that assures them of being accepted by elder women.
Level 2	Self-Sacrifice & Social Conformity	At this stage Gilligan proposes that young women are again encouraged to have great concern for their group. Whatever the consensus is for the group, even if they do not like it personally, they will go along anyway.  If the whole group seems to want to go bowling, then the one girl that hates it is very likely to go bowling anyway so as to not upset the other girls.
2A Transition	From Goodness to Truth	The moral development of females at this stage begins to change into something more honest.  The concern for the group, while still present, is tempered with the need to be honest.  To use the same bowling example again from above, the young woman at this stage might tell her friends to just go on without her and have fun.
Level 3	Morality of Nonviolence	Again this is somewhat similar to Kohlberg's final stage of "Universal Ethic" in that again this might best be understood as a more specific example of what a universal ethic might be for mature women.  Gilligan seems to be proposing that violence for women is never a solution.

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