Equal but Unique?

I’d like to share this interview with Carol Gilligan, who could be considered a woman of the modern rights movement:

http://www.feminist.com/resources/artspeech/interviews/carolgilligan.html

In order to achieve the primary goals at the birth of the women’s rights movement, it was important to demonstrate the equality of women.  Although women in several facets are still required to exhibit such equality in order to reach certain means, I think it is also rational to focus upon unique characteristics that bring positive differences to human interaction including government and ethics.  

Psychologist and author Carol Gilligan taught alongside leading psychological theorists Erik Erikson and Lawrence Kohlberg at Harvard.  Gilligan found that Erikson’s theory of identity and Kohlberg’s theories regarding moral dilemma reflected their own experience, but determined that neither represented a female perspective or experiences.  Subsequently, Gillian authored a book entitled “In a Different Voice,” which argued that concepts of moral typically utilized in psychological testing did not accurately reflect women.

Gilligan explained female development was guided by a context of caring and relationships, and not necessarily an abstract structure of rules.  Respect and admiration of Gilligan’s work led her to such roles as the first full professor in Gender Studies at Harvard and the Laurie Chair in Women’s Studies at Rutgers University.

I think Gilligan could be considered a woman of the modern movement, and I find it really intriguing that while she would not argue that one gender is better than the other, she points out that there are differences that make each an equally important part of humanity.  While she is a professor in NYU’s Schools of Education and Law, I had amazing opportunity to interview Mrs. Gilligan a few semesters ago for a paper.  She often intertwines her psychological perspective with her political perspective, which is inspiring to me personally.