ABSTRACT

This chapter addresses the unresolved question of whether or not a gender difference in moral reasoning is empirically confirmed. It proposes, even if actual statistical differences in the moral reasoning of women and men cannot be confirmed, there is nevertheless a real difference in the moral norms and values culturally associated with each gender. The truth of Gilligan's gender difference hypothesis has been questioned by a number of critics who cite what seems to be disconfirming empirical evidence. The chapter also proposes, even if care and justice do not define distinct moral perspectives, nevertheless, these concepts do point to other important differences in moral orientation. It suggests, in particular, that morally adequate care involves considerations of justice. The chapter explores a different reason why actual women and men may not show a divergence of reasoning along the care-justice dichotomy, namely, that the notions of care and justice overlap more than Gilligan, among others, has realized.