Gilligan's goal was to prove that women are not "moral midgets". Carol Gilligan is a feminist
Her theory is divided into three stages:
Preconventional
- Goal is indivual survival
"-Person only cares for themselves in order to ensure survival
-This is how everyone is as children"
Conventional
-Goal is self sacrifice is goodness
"-Responsibility
-More care shown for other people.
-Gilligan says this is shown in the role of Mother & Wife
-Situation sometimes carries on to ignoring needs of self."
Postconventional
"- Goal is Principle of non-violence: do not hurt others or self.
-Aceeptance of the principle of care for self and others is shown.
-Some people never reach this level."
Gilligan’s theory focuses on sex differences “in moral reasoning, the perception of violence, the resolution of sexual dilemmas and abortion decisions, poses a major challenge to Kohlberg's theory by introducing a feminist perspective of moral development.”
Gilligan strongly feels that women need to stand up for themselves and get rid of the gender roles.