Carol Gilligan is a psychologist known for her work on moral development and gender differences. She received her BA from Swarthmore College and PhD from Harvard University. Gilligan taught at Harvard and Cambridge and developed a theory that moral development progresses differently in women than men. Her work challenged Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development for being biased against recognizing differences in female psychology and experience. While praised for bringing awareness to gender differences, some like Cristina Hoff Sommers have criticized Gilligan's work for relying on anecdotal evidence rather than empirical data.

1. Carol Gilligan Danna Byers and Kaylyn Ruddy

2. Background Born in New York City- November 28 th , 1936 Only child Father was a lawyer, mother was a nursery school teacher Studied modern dance during graduate studies

3. Education Received BA summa cum laude in English literature from Swarthmore College, PA Received master’s degree in clinical psychology from Radcliffe college, MA Received Ph.D. in social psychology from Harvard University

4. Work Experience Began teaching career at Harvard University in 1967 Received tenure with the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1986 Gilligan taught for two years at the University of Cambridge (1992-1994) In 2002 she left Harvard to join New York University as a full professor with the School of Education and the School of Law Is currently a visiting professor with the University of Cambridge

5. Personal Life Married to James Gilligan, M.D., who directed the Center for the Study of Violence at Harvard Medical School Plays piano Awards; 1992 Grawemeyer Award in Education 1996 Time Magazine one of the 25 most influential Americans 1997 Heinz Award

6. Theory Devlopment 1970- research assistant for Lawerence Kohlberg Studied moral development in girls Vietnam/abortion Criticized Kohlberg’s work Biased against women Stages of moral development

7. Theory Asks women 4 questions: who is speaking? In what body? Telling what story? And in what cultural framework is it presented? Women are psychologically different from men Moral development: selfish, social/conventional morality, post conventional/principled morality

8. Critics Cristina Hoff Sommers, Ph. D. claims Gilligan failed to produce data from research Claims Gilligan used anecdotal evidence- unable to duplicate work and samples are too small

9. Value to Practitioners Founder of a difference feminism It encourages society to appreciate the different ways of thinking between men and women and to value them equally Within classrooms value both gender opinions and ways of thinking

10. References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Gilligan http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/gilligan.html For more information and a special interview with Carol Gilligan please go to this website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NHdSVknB5Q