In A Different Voice

"In her foundational work In A Different Voice, Gilligan (1982) points out differences between an ethic of duty or justice and an ethic of care, and suggests that female moral decision making tends to be informed more by an ethic of care than by an ethic of duty.  The distinction between these two ways of understanding ethical decision making centres on the classic difference between applying universal or general principles to the question of what constitutes a moral action versus making ethical choices primarily with regard to the particularities of an individual situation and its relational context. The ethic of duty or justice places primacy on the rules or general principles governing how to act, such as law and professional codes of ethics… The ethic of care gives priority to the maintenance of the relationship and the needs of the other for acknowledgement, attention and responsiveness to physical, emotional and social needs. Gilligan and Attanucci (1988) summarise the distinction between an ethic of justice or duty and an ethic of care:

 

"A justice perspective draws attention to problems of inequality and oppression and holds up an ideal of reciprocity and equal respect. A care perspective draws attention to problems of detachment or abandonment and holds up an ideal of attention and response to need. Two moral injunctions – not to treat other unfairly and not to turn away from someone in need – capture these different concerns".

From Sperry, L. (2007). The Ethical and Professional Practice of Psychotherapy and Counselling.