Learn all about ethics of care. Study the ethics of care definition, dive into the history of feminist ethics and feminist theorists, and examine examples of care-based ethics in medicine, politics, and law. Identify criticisms of ethics of care theory and learn about the modern framework for ethics of care.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Ethics of Care | Definition, Theory & Examples
Table of Contents
- Ethics of Care Definition
- History of Feminist Ethics
- Modern Ethics of Care Theory
- Ethics of Care Examples
- Ethics of Care Criticisms
- Lesson Summary
- FAQs
- Activities
Ethics of Care True or False Activity
This activity will help you assess your knowledge of the definition, theory, and examples of ethics of care theory.
Directions
Determine whether the following statements are true or false. To do this, print or copy this page on a blank paper and underline or circle the answer.
1. Mel Noddings was one of the pioneers in establishing comprehensive theories of care.
True | False
2. Critics argued that care ethics reinforce gender stereotypes.
True | False
3. Moral development among males was justice-based and often taken as a standard.
True | False
4. Carol Gilligan was an internationally-acclaimed psychologist whose works included research on the moral development of girls and women.
True | False
5. According to Gilligan, ethical caring and natural caring are the same methods.
True | False
6. An act of affection, especially in consoling someone dear to you, is considered as natural caring.
True | False
7. Care ethics should rely on relationships with one another and take context into consideration.
True | False
8. Bioethics is the branch of ethics that studies the implications of medical practices and policies.
True | False
9. The ethics of care theory is deemed as both a feminist and masculinist approach to ethics.
True | False
10. According to some, care ethics did not support a sense of slave morality among the individuals that exercise it.
True | False
Answer Key
- False, because the correct statement is, Nel Noddings was one of the pioneers in establishing comprehensive theories of care.
- True
- True
- True
- False, because the correct statement is, According to Gilligan, ethical caring and natural caring are different methods.
- True
- True
- True
- False, because the correct statement is, The ethics of care theory is deemed as a feminist approach to ethics.
- False, because the correct statement is, According to some, care ethics supported a sense of slave morality among the individuals that exercise it.
What is wrong with feminist ethics?
There are multiple issues with feminist ethics of care. The main criticisms of the theory center around the fact that it was used to further the oppression of women physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
What are the basic features of the ethics of care?
The basic features of the modern theory of ethics of care include the autonomy and identity of the patient, attentiveness, relational responsibility, competence of care, responsiveness, and plurality and solidarity in relationships. One example in which each of these features can be clearly seen is the method of nurses in providing care to patients.
What are the basic features of ethics of care?
The theory of ethics of care is based on the concepts of compassion and the importance of relationships. Vulnerable people are in need of care, and people who can provide it should feel compassion and a moral obligation to provide that care.
What does feminist ethics focus on?
Feminist ethics focuses on many things, including the ways in which women are as valuable to society as men. The original theory of ethics of care was intended to demonstrate that women's responsibilities were just as important as those of men.
What is an example of ethics of care?
An example of an application of the ethics of care is the treatment a military nurse gives to an individual, especially a child, of another nationality, particularly when those nationalities are at war with one another. The treatment in this situation is solely based upon compassion and respect.
Table of Contents
- Ethics of Care Definition
- History of Feminist Ethics
- Modern Ethics of Care Theory
- Ethics of Care Examples
- Ethics of Care Criticisms
- Lesson Summary
What is ethics of care? The theory of ethics of care is a feminist idea that arose from the responsibilities which parents had to care for children, children had to care for aging parents, and other relationships which necessitate care. The fundamental idea of the theory of ethics of care is that vulnerable individuals need special attention in decision-making. In this context, relationships and compassion are fundamental. The context of these relationships and the needs of individuals are important in determining the ethics of care in any relationship.
In contrast to this theory, the worldviews of deontology and utilitarianism offer alternative views of human relationships and the responsibilities of humans to care for other people in certain relationships. Deontology posits that caring for other individuals is a responsibility or duty, rather than a demonstration of love or care for the other person. Utilitarianism holds that an individual's actions are only justified if they are beneficial to society. In other words, the only people who deserve care are those who have utility or who can contribute to the welfare of society. In both perspectives, individuals who are vulnerable are assumed burdens and should be cared for to the minimum extent necessary. Ethics of care, on the other hand, argues that caring for vulnerable individuals and aiding them in decision-making is a responsibility born of respect and care for a worthwhile cause that ultimately contributes to society through the benefit it brings to human individual, social, and international relationships. According to this theory, care should not be provided naturally and instinctively (''natural caring'') but should be calibrated to the needs of the receiver and the capabilities of the giver (''ethical caring'').
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The feminist theory of ethics of care has evolved through the work of many feminists. One of the most prominent feminists to promote this theory was Alison Jaggar. One of her most significant theories was that women were oppressed by their assumed responsibilities regarding family matters, whereas a man had alternative responsibilities which were considered to be more important. Jaggar stated that women's willingness to care for children and others was just as valuable and ethical as the efforts of men in their sphere. Another significant figure, Carol Gilligan, coined the term ''ethics of care'' and described a woman's stages of moral development, which is centered around compassion, whereas the education of males is centered around justice. Since men dominated society, the concept of justice being the most important factor in society was the most widely-adopted perspective. This led to women's multiplicity of physical and mental issues in response to being silenced and not being permitted to exercise compassion. Truly, it was necessary for compassion and relationships to be forefront in many areas of society such as criminal justice, medical care, and family relationships.
Another prominent feminist who expanded the theory of ethics of care was Nel Noddings. Noddings examined the differences between natural caring and ethical caring. These methods were appropriate for certain circumstances but not for others. Natural caring is that which happens more or less involuntarily as a conditioned response to the misfortune or needs of others. For example, if a person's aunt lost their job and was sad, that person would hug them. This is a culturally acceptable method of providing comfort to an individual with whom one maintains a relationship. In contrast, hugging someone unfamiliar is not a gesture that comes naturally; it is a deliberate action done beyond that which is expected. Thus, this is called ethical caring. To determine which form of caring was necessary, Noddings created a problem-solving model, which included factors to consider such as the relationships between the caregiver and the person receiving the care and the physical proximity of the caregiver and receiver. The care provided by the giver is determined by the desires of the receiver, the needs of the receiver, the capabilities of the giver, and the commitment of the giver.
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Care-based ethics has impacted more than feminist theory and feminist ethics of care. Modern ethics of care expands the obligations expressed in this theory from applying only to women to all individuals. For example, the care given through nursing is a quintessential example of the application of modern ethics of care.
The modern metaethical framework for ethics of care includes elements such as:
- Autonomy and identity of the patient
- Attentiveness
- Relational responsibility
- Competence of care
- Responsiveness
- Plurality and solidarity in relationships
An example of modern ethics of care being applied in nursing is when a nurse in a war zone cares for an individual of a different nationality. In the accompanying photo, the U.S. Army nurse is applying the principle of ethics of care in nursing by ensuring that the child's condition is stable and that equipment is functioning properly. The child's political, religious, and cultural background are irrelevant; the nurse is caring for him just the same.
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There are many examples of the application of feminist ethics of care beyond the common example of ethics of care in nursing, ranging from individual relationships, international relations, and animal-human relationships.
- Poverty
- Some scholars believe that the problem of poverty in a community should be addressed in the same framework that caregivers use to treat care receivers. Fiona Robinson proposes that governments and institutions should use the problem-solving model created by Noddings to help poor individuals. An example of an application in this situation would be a social worker attempting to advocate for an individual below the poverty line to help them acquire the basic needs of life.
- Motherhood
- The original application of ethics of care was in the context of familial relationships. For instance, mothers are expected to care for their children out of a sense of ethical concern for their well-being rather than out of a sense of obligation or duty (feeding, aiding them in their education, proactively watching after their health). This will result in the care being focused on helping train children to make their own decisions.
- International Relations
- In terms of international politics, some utilize the ethics of care to purport that stronger nations with resources are obligated to care for weaker nations or nations that are facing disastrous elements such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks. For instance, in 2022 the United States sent funds and supplies to Tonga after the island nation suffered from a devastating volcanic eruption.
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Like other theories, ethics of care has pros and cons. While ethics of care has made a significant impact on multiple fields of work and aspects of life, there are several credible criticisms of the theory. The three main criticisms of this theory of care are:
- It reinforces sex and gender stereotypes.
- This theory, since it does not state that everyone is obligated to care for people, implies that it is women's responsibility to provide care. This is because care was already expected from women when the theory was initiated.
- It forces women to do emotional labor for the sake of men.
- Emotional care for males by females is supported by this theory since it does not expressly state who is responsible for caring and who can expect the care.
- It fosters a slave mentality for women.
- Women feel obligated to care for others whom they do not know out of a sense of obligation. Thus, they care for others when they do not feel an authentic responsibility to care for them. It also forces them to perform actions that they may not want to do and indeed may feel a strong aversion to, because of the expectation of care.
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Ethics of care is a feminist theory created to explain how individuals who were vulnerable should be helped to make decisions. They should also be protected against harm. This care should be performed based on compassion and human relationships. All individuals have a responsibility to care for these people, but ethics of care views this responsibility from the point of view of relationships rather than the effect that care of these individuals has on society.
The modern framework for applying the ethics of care includes:
- Autonomy and identity of the patient
- Attentiveness
- Relational responsibility
- Competence of care
- Responsiveness
- Plurality and solidarity in relationships
The concept of ''ethics of care'' was introduced by Carol Gilligan, who connected with the moral education of females, centered around compassion. The importance of ethics of care and its difference from natural care was developed by several prominent feminists. Nel Noddings examined the distinction between the two and when each is appropriate to use. Natural care is that which happens involuntarily as a response to the misfortunes of others, while ethical caring involves deliberate actions done above and beyond the expectation. Several tenable criticisms of this theory exist, which essentially state that the ethics of care theory only serves to preserve the oppression of women by men, and actually increases the burden on women by requiring them to take on more emotional labor in the name of ''ethical caring.''
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Video Transcript
What Is Ethics of Care?
Ethel is 89 years old and was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her doctor believes that she's got only a couple of months left to live. In that time, Ethel's health will deteriorate rapidly, and she will experience a lot of pain. Ethel wants to live out the rest of her good days with her family.
However, once the pain becomes unbearable and she can no longer take care of herself, Ethel is considering opting for physician-assisted suicide. Her current doctor does not support this idea.
What do you think about this situation? Is this an act of harm or compassion? There are some who believe that there are universal codes that remain constant no matter what the scenario may be. Care ethics is the exact opposite of that. The ethics of care theory believes that context can sometimes overrule justice and our universal code of conduct. This approach focuses more on the interconnectedness of humanity and places a moral significance on our relationships as 'care-givers' and 'care-receivers.'
History of Ethics of Care Theory
The phrase 'care ethics' has its roots in feminist theory and was originally coined by psychologist Carol Gilligan. The phrase was created after a study that was conducted on how little girls look at ethics. Gilligan found that in relation to boys, the moral development of girls tended to come from compassion instead of being justice-based. From the study, Gilligan proposed that ethics should be focused on relationships instead of emphasizing autonomy and rules. Her theory focused more on our connections with each other and situations being context dependent.
Another woman, philosopher Nel Noddings, further contributed to the theory in the 1980s. Noddings decided to focus the approach more on our intimate relationships. She felt that it was necessary to differentiate between natural caring or 'wanting to care' and 'ethical caring' or 'needing to care.'
For example, let's say your aunt tells you that she's just lost her job. You give her a hug in an act of affection. This is an example of natural caring. Now let's say that an acquaintance tells you she just had a messy break-up with her boyfriend. You don't know her very well. However, you believe that 'showing you care' is the best response, so you give her a hug. This is an example of ethical caring.
In current times, care ethics has been applied to a number of different scenarios. This includes business ethics, environmental ethics, and even animal care ethics. One of the best examples of care ethics being used in modern times is in bioethics. Professions involved in medicine specifically deal with caring for others. As a result, care ethics has become a part of assessing both medical practices and policies. Additionally, it has also been applied to a number of different social movements. Care ethics has been included in debates about topics like capital punishment and hospice care.
Criticisms of Care Ethics
Though the theory was well-received by some communities, others were troubled by it. Some believed care ethics reinforced gender stereotypes. This was a huge debate with Gilligan's original theory. Some felt that it painted a very black and white image of men and women. It was argued that instead of just studying the difference between the genders, they should also look at how women differ from each other.
Another criticism was that care ethics supported a sense of slave morality. The concept of slave morality is the idea that those who are oppressed often times develop moral codes that reaffirm submissive traits as good qualities. In this case, people believed that care ethics supported the notion of 'caring' when it may not be authentic or empowering. It also failed to address who is caring for whom and if it is a just and healthy relationship. In the end, this could support the original problem of oppression.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, we explored ethics of care theory which is a relationship-based approach to ethics, as opposed to a justice-based approach. Psychologist Carol Gilligan and philosopher Nel Noddings both contributed to the development of this theory, which originated from a feminist school of thought. Both of these women stressed that ethics should be focused on our relationships with one another and should also take context into consideration. Though it has been criticized by some, the theory has been implemented in various different aspects of our modern day life, including business, medicine, and even environmental issues.
Ethics of Care Theory, People & Events
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- Ethics of Care Theory: a relationship-based way to approach ethics as opposed to justice-based
- Carol Gilligan: psychologist who coined the phrase 'ethics care' after a study of how little girls looked at ethics
- Nel Noddings: philosopher who further looked at the more intimate relationship of ethics and care
- Natural Caring: the idea of wanting to care
- Ethical Caring: the philosophy of needing to care
- Slave Morality: the oppressed develop moral codes asserting submissive traits as high qualities
Learning Outcomes
When this lesson is done, students should be able to:
- Describe the theory related to ethics of care
- Recall those who developed this theory through various studies
- Compare the theory of ethics to slave morality thoughts
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Ethics of Care | Definition, Theory & Examples
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