ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by affirming the importance of positive intimate relationships to our well-being. It shows how the emotions influence personal relationships and why some women sacrifice personal interests in order to care for others’ needs. Friendships rely on mutuality and the chapter looks at:
differences in women’s and men’s friendships
how passionate friendship searches for others like ourselves
duties within friendships.
The chapter then examines special moral ties in the family. Some ties are healthy, others are destructive. Obligations in families depend on the just or unjust treatment of family members. To decide how to treat others decently, the chapter concludes by examining a feminist ethics approach to:trust
dealing with conflict
expressing anger
discerning oppression in intimate relationships
guilt and conflicting interests.
