Ethics Theory and Business Practice 8.1 Feminine Ethics – Part One Feminine Ethics: an Alternative to the Masculine Mainstream

aims to introduce the idea that there may be a characteristically feminine way of thinking about ethics to explore some insights that a feminine ethical perspective might offer to business

contrasting a feminine ethic of care to a masculine justice perspective contrasting ways of viewing human relations contrasting ways of thinking about and resolving ethical dilemmas contrasting expectations of ethics (Gilligan, 1993/1982)

1. contrasting ways of viewing human relations masculine perspective: human relations are characterized by individuality and independence. They offer the potential for competitive confrontations, which need to be regulated by precise rules feminine perspective: human relations are characterized by connection and interdependency. They offer the possibility of harmonious interaction

2. contrasting ways of thinking about and resolving ethical dilemmas masculine perspective: ethical dilemmas are inevitable encounters between separate individuals with conflicting ethical claims. Their resolution requires dispassionate application of abstract principles to reach definitive verdicts. This can be carried out at a distance feminine perspective: those involved in ethical dilemmas are seen as members of a network of relationships. Resolution of dilemmas involves preserving communal bonds so that all can benefit. This is achieved through enhanced understanding, which requires proximity

3. contrasting expectations of ethics masculine perspective: ethics offers a means of protecting the legitimate claims of individuals, which are often conceived in terms of rights feminine perspective: ethics offers a way of finding resolutions that serve everybody’s interests See Exercise 8.1a

‘a feminist reinterpretation of the stakeholder concept’ atomistic perspective on corporations and their stakeholders corporations and their stakeholders linked in webs of interdependency a competitive business environment in which corporations need to establish dominance corporations need to cooperate with stakeholders in order to achieve mutual benefit corporate decision making as a rational, dispassionate undertaking, which can be carried out at a distance from the views of stakeholders focus on stakeholder communication and collective decision making (Wicks et al, 1994) this could be run as a group exercise, in which the masculine metaphors are supplied and groups are asked to propose a feminist alternative

feminine metaphors at Ben & Jerry’s? www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbWN9lSsd0M See Video Activity 8.1

the ethical ideal the impulse that motivates us to act ethically it is developed in instances of natural care and motivates us to provide ethical care when natural care is absent it is also reinforced by experiences of ethical care and by proximity to an ethically charged situation (Noddings, 2003)

why we are motivated to provide ethical care proximity moments of ethical care moments of natural care ethical ideal summary inclination to provide ethical care

some implications of Noddings’ account for business the self-reinforcing quality of care the relationship between care, proximity, and company size the desirability of women in management www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtI_BpqoZ30 See Video Activity 8.2

key points there may be a characteristically feminine way of thinking about ethics, which differs in many ways from a masculine perspective masculine perspectives on ethics seem to have dominated business thinking a characteristically feminine perspective may therefore offer some fresh insights to business ethics, which contrast with the masculine mainstream a feminine perspective may even offer a basis for arranging business that is fundamentally more ethical than conventional approaches

references Gilligan, C. (1993/1982) In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women’s Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Noddings, N. (2003) Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education, (2nd edn). Berkeley: University of California Press. Wicks, A.C., Gilbert, D.R. and Freeman, R.E. (1994) ‘A feminist reinterpretation of the stakeholder concept’, Business Ethics Quarterly, 4/4: 475–97.