1. Gender Differences in Moral Reasoning: Gilligan challenged the dominant theories of moral development, such as Kohlberg's theory, which were based primarily on studies of male subjects. She argued that women's moral reasoning often differs from men's and cannot be adequately captured by existing frameworks.
2. The "Different Voice" of Women: Gilligan proposed that women's moral reasoning often places more emphasis on relationships, care, and responsibility to others rather than abstract principles and justice. She referred to this as the "different voice" of women in moral decision-making.
3. The Ethics of Care: Gilligan introduced the concept of the ethics of care as a central component of moral development. The ethics of care focuses on the importance of caring for others, nurturing relationships, and maintaining social connections as foundational moral principles.
4. Critique of Kohlberg's Theory: Gilligan criticized Kohlberg's theory of moral development for its emphasis on universal moral principles and its neglect of the contextual and relational aspects of morality. She argued that Kohlberg's theory was biased toward male perspectives and overlooked the significance of care and responsibility in moral decision-making.
5. The Just Community Approach: Gilligan's research led her to propose an alternative approach to moral development that emphasizes the importance of creating just communities. She argued that moral growth involves fostering relationships based on equality, respect, and the ability to resolve conflicts through dialogue and collaboration.
6. Impact on Feminist Ethics and Psychology: Gilligan's work has significantly influenced feminist ethics, psychology, and gender studies. It challenged traditional notions of morality and expanded the understanding of moral development to include perspectives that value relationships, care, and interdependence.
Gilligan's research has been critiqued for its focus on gender differences rather than individual variations within gender groups. However, her emphasis on the ethics of care and the importance of relationships in moral development has provided new insights and broadened our understanding of moral reasoning and decision-making.