This is the little book that started a revolution. First published almost twenty years ago, it made women's voices heard, in their own right and with their own integrity, for virtually the first time in social scientific theorizing about women. Its impact was immediate and continues to this day, in the academic world and beyond. Translated into sixteen languages, with more than three-quarters of a million copies sold around the world. In a Different Voice has inspired new research, new educational initiatives, and political debate-and helped many women and men to see themselves and each other in a different light.
Carol Gilligan believes that psychology has persistently and systematically misunderstood women--their motives, their moral commitments, the course of their psychological growth, and their special view of what is important in life. Here she sets out to correct psychology's misperceptions and refocus its view of female personality. The result is truly a tour de force, which may well reshape much of what psychology now has to say about female experience.
A rigor-less lens with which to view women. May 7, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Gilligan's book launched a cottage industry of teacher in-service seminars on the disadvantages (and the corresponding advantages provided to men) that American women experience in our educational system. Unfortunately, her study lacked any rigor that is associated with sound research. While the study provides face validity (conclusions that seem to make sense), there is no predictive value to the study and its conclusions. Further, Gilligan has changed her story from this being a quantitative study, to it really being a qualitative study, to, eventually, it being an anecdotal study. There may be large differences in the way our schools treat women. They may even be placed in a disadvantaged position, but there is no valid evidence presented here. Gilligan has been unwilling to open her research up to the academic community, a violation of accepted academic practice. Therefore, this study is less of a proof than it is a lens by which to view, a priori, a feminist perspective on the disadvantages provided to American women. As such, it would be useful to feminist theory, but not to science and reason. It did provide a useful tool to get Kohlberg to reformulate his research to be more inclusive, so that was useful. Hoff-Summers wrote a critique of Gilligan called The War Against Boys. Hoff-Summers' interest was first piqued by being a feminist with a son in public schools, and her experience of the way she saw girls being favored in classrooms at the expense of the boys. It is an interesting read, and while it may not draw all the correct conclusions, it does shine a fairly bright light on the weakness of Gilligan's methodology.
"I get it" December 29, 2007 I actually am still reading this book because I am taking my time digesting it all. It's really giving me insight on how women's thoughts and opinions have been influenced from birth. It's helping me validate my own feelings and opinions.
Interesting Idea -- but no proof !!! August 16, 2007 1 out of 3 found this review helpful
The data upon which this author's bold thesis is based has never been made available for public review, peer review, or any other kind of review. Perhaps she just made it all up ?
In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women's Development May 14, 2007 1 out of 3 found this review helpful
One of the most important books in the psychology of women -essential reading
My Opinion on In a Different Voice November 24, 2004 17 out of 27 found this review helpful
I thought that I was going to be overwhelmed with feminist views when I first checked this book out of the library; I was rather turned off. But when I started to read, I was intrigued. It was interesting to see the contrast between the different genders.
Seeing the developmental process really helped me to grasp why our genders seem so different, although not so different. I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to understand the developmental process between women and men, even if they were not going into a specific educational field of development.
I think that is important for people to understand how the opposite sex thinks, and works. There are so many interesting details concerning development that Gilligan presents. What stands out most in the book is how females tend to lean more towards relationships, and males tend to lean more towards rules and discipline. These points are expressed throughout her book and I was amazed at how much I learned
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