Feminist Ethics

Feminist EthicsFeminist EthicsThe Handmaid’s DutyThe Handmaid’s Duty

Feminist EthicsFeminist Ethics

First, what is Feminism?First, what is Feminism?

According to Brannigan, p.179, its original According to Brannigan, p.179, its original meaning and impetus is:meaning and impetus is:

… … the long-standing history of the long-standing history of control and dominance by men control and dominance by men throughout the world, men who have throughout the world, men who have not viewed women as their equals.not viewed women as their equals.

This suggests that Feminism is a This suggests that Feminism is a reactionreaction to to a proposed injustice against women by men. a proposed injustice against women by men.

4 Kinds of Feminism4 Kinds of Feminism

Nina Rosenstand classifies four basic types Nina Rosenstand classifies four basic types of feminism:of feminism:

1)1)Classical FeminismClassical Feminism

2)2)Difference FeminismDifference Feminism

3)3)Equity FeminismEquity Feminism

4)4)Radical FeminismRadical Feminism

Classical FeminismClassical Feminism

Classical feminism is Classical feminism is characterized by characterized by focusing on the focusing on the personhoodpersonhood of women, of women, and their status as and their status as morally equal to men in morally equal to men in that regard.that regard.

There is a strong focus There is a strong focus on distinguishing on distinguishing between between

biologically based and biologically based and

socially constructedsocially constructed

differences between men differences between men and womenand women

The match forever known as The Battle of the Sexes

http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016060.html

Classical Feminism Classical Feminism (continued)(continued)

The usual or historical view of women as the The usual or historical view of women as the weaker sex, attributed to anatomical and weaker sex, attributed to anatomical and psychological differences, is rejected by psychological differences, is rejected by arguments.arguments. Inability to excel in math and scienceInability to excel in math and science Inability to compete in sportsInability to compete in sports Inability to withstand physical hardshipInability to withstand physical hardship Inability to withstand psychological hardshipInability to withstand psychological hardship Etc.Etc.

These are all beliefs that classical These are all beliefs that classical feminists historically have argued against feminists historically have argued against and rejected to one degree or another.and rejected to one degree or another.


Brannigan, p. 184, classifies Simone Brannigan, p. 184, classifies Simone de Beauvoir as a classical de Beauvoir as a classical feminist.feminist.

De Beauvoir was Jean-Paul Sartre’s De Beauvoir was Jean-Paul Sartre’s close friend and developed her close friend and developed her approach to feminism in light of approach to feminism in light of his philosophical work in his philosophical work in Being and Being and NothingnessNothingness..


In In The Second SexThe Second Sex, she applies Sartre’s view , she applies Sartre’s view that there is no such thing as “human that there is no such thing as “human nature” to her status as a woman, resulting nature” to her status as a woman, resulting in the view that womanliness is equally a in the view that womanliness is equally a construct of consciousness without being a construct of consciousness without being a necessary part of her identity.necessary part of her identity.


After considering women After considering women from a from a

““historical, historical, psychoanalytical, psychoanalytical, biological, literary, biological, literary, mythical, and personal mythical, and personal lens” she concludes that lens” she concludes that women are treated as women are treated as “Other, as Alien, in a “Other, as Alien, in a world defined, world defined, determined, and determined, and controlled by men.”controlled by men.”

Difference FeminismDifference FeminismIn contrast to Classical Feminism, In contrast to Classical Feminism,

Difference Feminism asserts that Difference Feminism asserts that despite the equal moral status of despite the equal moral status of men and women as persons, there are men and women as persons, there are genuine differences between the genuine differences between the sexes and those differences need not sexes and those differences need not all be considered “equal.”all be considered “equal.”

Carol Gilligan (1936 -), a Harvard Carol Gilligan (1936 -), a Harvard psychologist, is the most prominent psychologist, is the most prominent proponent of the view.proponent of the view.

Difference Feminism Difference Feminism (continued)(continued)

Gilligan’s book, Gilligan’s book, In a Different VoiceIn a Different Voice, argues , argues that there are differences between how men that there are differences between how men and women, boys and girls, reason morally.and women, boys and girls, reason morally.

Her work is a reaction to the work of her Her work is a reaction to the work of her colleague, child psychologist Lawrence colleague, child psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987).Kohlberg (1927-1987).

Kohlberg conducted experiments by which he Kohlberg conducted experiments by which he concluded that boys mature morally ahead of concluded that boys mature morally ahead of girls.girls.


Kohlberg had identified six stages of moral development:Kohlberg had identified six stages of moral development:

1.1. Stage of punishment and obedienceStage of punishment and obedience

2.2. Stage of individual instrumental purpose and exchangeStage of individual instrumental purpose and exchange

3.3. Stage of mutual interpersonal expectations, Stage of mutual interpersonal expectations, relationships, and conformityrelationships, and conformity

4.4. Stage of social system and consciousness maintenanceStage of social system and consciousness maintenance

5.5. Stage of prior rights and social contractStage of prior rights and social contract

6.6. Stage of universal ethical principlesStage of universal ethical principles

In responding to a scenario about whether to steal in order In responding to a scenario about whether to steal in order to secure a life-saving drug, boys typically appealed to to secure a life-saving drug, boys typically appealed to principles (4 through 6), while girls asked why, instead principles (4 through 6), while girls asked why, instead of stealing, the person couldn’t just explain his of stealing, the person couldn’t just explain his circumstances better and avoid having to steal circumstances better and avoid having to steal (reasoning at stage 3).(reasoning at stage 3).


Gilligan agrees that the experiment shows that Gilligan agrees that the experiment shows that boys and girls reason differently, but boys and girls reason differently, but disagrees that boys reasoning is more morally disagrees that boys reasoning is more morally mature.mature.

Brannigan represents Gilligan’s critique of Brannigan represents Gilligan’s critique of Kohlberg’s test as reflecting a 2 fold bias:Kohlberg’s test as reflecting a 2 fold bias:

1.1.““His position represents the enduring Western His position represents the enduring Western philosophical bias against the role of feelings philosophical bias against the role of feelings and emotions since it assumes logical analysis and emotions since it assumes logical analysis and reasoning to be the most important faculty and reasoning to be the most important faculty of the human psyche.”of the human psyche.”

2.2.““His position clearly and unfairly affronts His position clearly and unfairly affronts women on the premise that they are less apt to women on the premise that they are less apt to think in terms of reasoned rules or think in terms of reasoned rules or principles.”principles.”


Gilligan’s emphasis and defense of feelings Gilligan’s emphasis and defense of feelings and emotions in moral decision making, an and emotions in moral decision making, an “ethic of care” in her terminology, is “ethic of care” in her terminology, is tempered by these concessions:tempered by these concessions:

1.1.She does not assert that an ethic of care is She does not assert that an ethic of care is superior to one grounded on appeal to rules superior to one grounded on appeal to rules and principles.and principles.

2.2.She does not claim that women’s approach is She does not claim that women’s approach is better than men’s.better than men’s.

3.3.She suggests they are both necessary and She suggests they are both necessary and must be integrated for good moral reasoning.must be integrated for good moral reasoning.

Equity FeminismEquity FeminismEquity feminism is contrasted with Equity feminism is contrasted with

“gender feminists” that pose men “gender feminists” that pose men and women as enemies.and women as enemies.

In In Who Stole Feminism?Who Stole Feminism? Christina Hoff Christina Hoff Sommers suggests that now that Sommers suggests that now that women have achieved a significant women have achieved a significant level of social equality with men, level of social equality with men, they should get on with pursuing they should get on with pursuing their talents and using the their talents and using the freedoms won by earlier feminists.freedoms won by earlier feminists.

Her article is a response to gender feminists who censured her for her comments regarding the scene in Gone With the Wind when Rhett Butler carries Scarlett O’Hara up the stairs. Gender feminists consider the scene a de facto endorsement of rape, while Sommers did not.

Equity FeminismEquity Feminism

Sommers:Sommers:

The presumption that men collectively are engaged The presumption that men collectively are engaged in keeping women down invites feminist bonding in in keeping women down invites feminist bonding in a resentful community, . . . American feminists a resentful community, . . . American feminists are guided by women who believe what they call are guided by women who believe what they call the male hegemony or the sex gender system, a the male hegemony or the sex gender system, a misogynous culture that socializes women to be misogynous culture that socializes women to be docile and submissive to the controlling gender.docile and submissive to the controlling gender.

Sommers defends the original spirit of behind Sommers defends the original spirit of behind feminism, that of classical feminism.feminism, that of classical feminism.

Radical FeminismRadical Feminism

Radical feminism is named etymologically from Radical feminism is named etymologically from “radix,” Latin for “root.”“radix,” Latin for “root.”

What is the root cause of inequality and What is the root cause of inequality and oppression of women? Patriarchal (fatherly) oppression of women? Patriarchal (fatherly) social structure and gender relations.social structure and gender relations.

While Radical feminism agrees with Equity While Radical feminism agrees with Equity feminism that important advances in women’s feminism that important advances in women’s rights have occurred, they believe much more rights have occurred, they believe much more needs to be done.needs to be done.

Radical Feminism Radical Feminism (continued)(continued)

Examples from Brannigan include:Examples from Brannigan include:

Free sexual activity among men is condoned Free sexual activity among men is condoned while it is not among womenwhile it is not among women

Men’s careers are still assigned more Men’s careers are still assigned more importance than those of womenimportance than those of women

Men are still paid better than womenMen are still paid better than women Women’s sports are considered second-classWomen’s sports are considered second-class Kids are showing interest in Ken and Barbie Kids are showing interest in Ken and Barbie

dolls again!dolls again!

Radical Feminism Radical Feminism (continued)(continued)

To further illustrate, Brannigan turns to the To further illustrate, Brannigan turns to the claim that standards of beauty are claim that standards of beauty are determined by men. determined by men.

““Women still view themselves as Women still view themselves as persons persons needing to be attractive to menneeding to be attractive to men.”.”

Where in particular are these values Where in particular are these values expressed?expressed? The fashion industryThe fashion industry The cosmetics industryThe cosmetics industry

Cosmetic surgeries such as breast augmentation Cosmetic surgeries such as breast augmentation are considered established by “male values.” are considered established by “male values.”

Criticism of Feminism, Criticism of Feminism, GenerallyGenerally

Going back to the original impetus for a Going back to the original impetus for a feminist ethics:feminist ethics:

… … the long-standing history of control and dominance the long-standing history of control and dominance by men throughout the world, men who have not by men throughout the world, men who have not viewed women as their equals.viewed women as their equals.

Why blame men?Why blame men?

Why not blame the necessary structure of Why not blame the necessary structure of social evolution—(from hunter-gatherer to social evolution—(from hunter-gatherer to nomadic herders, to simple farming, to nomadic herders, to simple farming, to complex or intensive agricultural complex or intensive agricultural societies, etc.) and its necessary societies, etc.) and its necessary divisions of labor that perhaps required a divisions of labor that perhaps required a certain childbearing, childrearing, and certain childbearing, childrearing, and homemaking roles for women?homemaking roles for women?

Aren’t men placed in their roles by Aren’t men placed in their roles by economic and social structure requirements economic and social structure requirements as well?as well?

Criticism of Feminist Ethics, Criticism of Feminist Ethics, SpecificallySpecifically

Brannigan renders Gilligan’s division of Brannigan renders Gilligan’s division of moral reasoning by gender as moral reasoning by gender as

““Women tend to consider the human dynamics Women tend to consider the human dynamics within particular situations, whereas men within particular situations, whereas men tend to think more in terms of specific tend to think more in terms of specific rules and principles.”rules and principles.”

He points out that once we get specific He points out that once we get specific in looking at a particular case, the in looking at a particular case, the differences seem to disappear. differences seem to disappear.

Focusing on the details in a human Focusing on the details in a human relationship is part of what any good relationship is part of what any good Aristotelian would do, using the Aristotelian would do, using the intellectual virtue of prudence to intellectual virtue of prudence to determine just what would constitute determine just what would constitute kindness or generosity in a particular kindness or generosity in a particular case…case…

Criticism of Feminist Ethics, Criticism of Feminist Ethics, Specifically (cont.)Specifically (cont.)

Similarly, even a Kantian realizes that the Similarly, even a Kantian realizes that the Categorical Imperative’s first “material” Categorical Imperative’s first “material” formulation focuses on treating other formulation focuses on treating other persons as ends with intrinsic value, and persons as ends with intrinsic value, and never merely as a means or a tool.never merely as a means or a tool.

Does such reasoning really seem Does such reasoning really seem paradigmatically “male”?paradigmatically “male”?

Further readingFurther reading

Nathan Nobis, Nathan Nobis, Feminist Ethics Without Feminist Feminist Ethics Without Feminist Ethical TheoryEthical Theory

http://homepage.uab.edu/nnobis/papers/feminist-ethics.pdf

Stanford’s Encyclopedia Article on Feminist Stanford’s Encyclopedia Article on Feminist EthicsEthics

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-ethics/



http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-ethics/

Feminist Ethics

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