ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the empirical evidence regarding the contentious issue of sex differences in moral reasoning and sex bias in theories of morality. Two claims regarding this issue have been raised: (a) that there are two sex-related orientations for moral decision-making, and (b) that Kohlberg’s moral stage theory down-scores the moral reasoning of females. Evidence regarding the former claim indicates that sex differences in moral orientations are infrequent and that such differences can be best attributed to dilemma content. Evidence regarding the latter claim indicates that the overall pattern is one of nonsignifi cant sex differences in stage of moral reasoning development. Discussion focuses on the appropriate definition of mature moral reasoning.
