FREE ESSAY ON FEMINISM

FEMINISM

What is feminism? By general definition, feminism is a philosophy in which women and their
contributions are valued. It is based on social, political and economical equality for
women. Feminists can be anyone in the population, men, women, girl or boys. Feminism can
also be described as a movement. A revolution that includes women and men who wish the
world to be equal without boundaries. These boundaries or blockades are better known as
discrimination and biases against gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status and
economic status. Everyone views the world with his or her own sense of gender and
equality. Feminists view the world as being unequal. They wish to see the gender gap and
the idea that men are superior to women decreased or even abolished. Carol Gilligan is
one woman who has contributed much time and effort to the feminist theory. Her beliefs
and ideas are based upon difference feminism. In this essay I will tie the ideas and
beliefs of Carol Gilligan with information from our text, the packet read in class and
the book, Faces of Feminism. Carol Gilligan is a lecturer and assistant professor at
Harvard University as well as a psychologist. She has many theories that deal with moral
reasoning and development. In her influential book In a Different Voice, she sets forth
the idea that women make decisions "according to a criteria of ethics of care and that
men make decisions according to an ethic of rights."(3) In her book, Carol Gilligan also
disagrees with Lawrence Kohlbergs' theory, which suggests that "Few people matured fully
in their moral reasoning...but women hardly ever did."(2) In her opposition Gilligan
stated that "women make moral decisions according to different but equally mature and
morally upright reasoning."(2) She feels that women are different because they posses a
different hereditary set of values and beliefs. This opposition to Kohlberg's theory was
backed by research. Even though there was research done to support Gilligan, it seemed to
have experimenter bias. It was not an open or strong experiment and it only observed the
actions of the white middle class. This did not give a clear or objective view on the
separate criteria of women and men. The views and ideas on moral reasoning and
development set forth by Carol Gilligan are those of many difference feminists.Difference
feminism is just one type of feminism. It gives a concept that "women should go back to
traditional roles"(3) set by society. It also states that gender is natural and is not
learned by the society in which one lives. Not all Feminists agree with this theory but
there are many feminists, such as Carol Gilligan who agree with this idea that even
though men and women are different, they each have their own separate place in society.
Difference feminism is "successful because it tells people what they want to hear: women
really are different in just the ways that we always thought. ... And men have power,
wealth and control of social resources because women do not really want them."(3) This
idea of difference feminism sets forth a number of stereotypes. They give feminists and
the general public a skewed view of the theory behind the philosophy. 
In the book Faces of Feminism, feminist theorists were asked, "Do women have to be the
same as men to be equal?"(1) The majority of responses were yes. It is believed that in
order for women and men to become equal, society must "unlearn and uncondition"(1) the
gender roles and standards it has established throughout history. Society and the people
in it have set up the basis for gender difference and now many feminists are breaking
down those barriers. Carol Gilligans' position on moral development and her views as a
feminist, suggest that "women's nature is not something to be replaced, but something to
be maintained, indeed celebrated, for the sake both of women and society."(1) This view
is tied in with the general definition of feminism, that women should be valued for their
accomplishments. Womanhood is important and should be celebrated and praised. On that
same note, maleness must also be celebrated and praised.
Bibliography
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