Sorority Rituals - Reflections On Rites of ... - Mari Ann Callais

To better understand Gilligan’s Female Stages of Moral Reasoning and the transitions
between the different levels the following are included here to provide an understanding of the
various phases that a female develops through:
Level 1: The Orientation Toward Self-Interest
At the simplest level of moral reasoning, women are pragmatically preoccupied with selfinterest
and survival. At this level, moral consideration would enter the reasoning process
only if the subject’s own needs were in conflict. Decisions at this level are made for what
would be best for the subject, without consideration for anyone else (Muss, 1988, p. 233).
The First Transition: From Selfishness to Responsibility
The individual begins to become aware of the difference between what she wants
(selfishness) and what she ought to do (responsibility) . . . . This growth from egocentric
selfishness to an emerging concern for others is the first major step from childhood
toward a more mature level of moral reasoning (Muss, 1988, p. 234).
Level 2: Identification of Goodness With Responsibility For Others
During adolescence, often development leads to the next higher level of moral reasoning
and allows a societal perspective to emerge. In this stage, the young woman equates
goodness with self-sacrifice and with pleasing and care for others. When a problem
cannot be resolved in the best interest of everyone, she will sacrifice her own preferences
to redefine the problem in terms of care and responsibility to others. The ability to value
and assert oneself implies danger because it can lead to criticism, even abandonment by
others (Muss, 1988, p. 234).
The Second Transition: From Conformity to a New Inner Judgment
The beginning of critical questioning about her own value characterizes the second
transition. The young woman begins to wonder whether her concerns are really selfish or
whether considering one’s own values and needs, not only those of others, might actually
be responsible. The essence of this transition is the change 'toward a new conception of
goodness which turns inward in an acknowledgment of the self and an acceptance of
responsibility for decision' (Gilligan, 1977, p. 500). However, the individual’s perception
of her self-worth is still too uncertain to allow her to claim full equality with others
(Muss, 1988, p. 235).
Level 3: Focusing on the Dynamics Between Self and Others
At the third level of moral reasoning, which many never attain, the individual develops a
universal perspective. At this level, a woman no longer sees herself as submissive or
powerless; she has become an active and equally valid participant in the decision-making
process. She has learned to verify her capacity for independent judgment and the
legitimacy of her own point of view. The woman’s criteria for decision making are
predicated upon a transformed understanding of interpersonal connectedness and on care
for others (Muss, 1988, p. 235).
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