Gender Issues and Moral Development - Assignment Example

Gender Issues and Moral Development Human morals have an influence to the activities that take place in the society. Decisions that people make in the society depend on morals. Sometimes a person may find it hard to decide what way to go when confronted with an issue that would taint his morality. The society has its norms, which helps in defining human morals. Largely, the society watches the action that a person takes when handling any issue. The society condemns or praises a person based on the action he or she takes to solve an issue.

This paper explores gender and moral development. The pre-convectional morality is the first level of moral development as described by Lawrence Kohlberg, and it applies to almost every human being. The stage one of pre-convectional morality- obedience and punishment stage, was quite enjoyable when I was in secondary school. I took the instructions that my teachers gave. It was important because I knew the cost of disobedience in school. Sometimes I made suggestions about an instruction that the teachers gave us, but would be disappointed when the teacher insists on following his instruction.

I could question the intention behind some instructions that I was given in school. Obedience and punishment stage subjected me to correction whenever I went wrong. The punishments that my teachers administered were quite interesting. Sometimes a teacher would ask us to leave the classroom until the end of the lesson. I could enjoy that time because some teachers did not know how to explain some concepts, it would boring for me to sit in class. I could utilize the opportunity to tell stories with friends.

Disappointment came when the teacher would subject us to strenuous punishment. Psycho emotional factors that contributed to my obedience to teachers were stress that came because of punishment or rejection whenever I made a mistake. Sometimes I could evaluate the gravity of the mistake that I had made and build stress level. My teachers motivated students to perform well in school. Whenever I was motivated, I yearned for an opportunity to show my obedience to my teachers. Another psycho emotional factor that had an influence in my life was tension.

Tension build up would lead to uncalculated actions. Doing anything when under tension would lead to a poor result. Teachers could tell whether I acted under stress or normally. These factors contributed in shaping my actions in obedience and punishment stage. Carol Gilligan, a psychologist would interpret my actions as appropriate since she argued that gender would influence moral development of a human being. In my case, I felt that some justice had to apply whenever I went wrong or I did what was good.

I agree with Carol’s theory since it defines the way male and the female react in the society. She points out that male children tend to demand justice while female would incline towards offering care and connections with other people (Killen and Smetana 105). The post-convectional morality level would affect they way a person would react when confronted by an issue. The stage 6 of this level is universal principles and it applies to most actions that people take in the society (Hoffman 182).

Sometimes life in industries or companies is quite hard. Sometimes a company worker may decide to comply with some rules, which are abusive to human right in order to earn a living. Universal principle stage of moral development is a stage that subjects people to test. In my case, I was subjected to test and I regret that I did not conduct myself in defense to this stage. During an industrial protest in my company, I was a leader and had to defend the company, instead of the rights and justice of the employees.

I did not know how to handle the issue because defending the company was part of my duty. On the other hand, universal principles dictates that a person would demand for what is just no matter what cost it takes. I felt disappointed because, I accepted the tyrannical administration of the company to cow my principles and became a slave of the company. Psychological factors that influenced my decision towards defending the company was stress and fear of losing my source of livelihood. I felt like whatever action that would rescue me from the stress.

Tension is another factor that dictated my actions. Making the right decision when tensed is quite difficult. In many occasions, a decision that an individual makes under tension would have a negative influence. Carol Gilligan would describe my situation as a move towards individual survival. Carol noted in her theory that women concern would be based on self. I think I was drove by the same ego to pursue my own interest above others. My focus on the dilemma inclined on the theory of Carol, which argued that men would focus on justice during dilemma while women focused on care.

In summary, human moral are influenced by stages in moral development as described in Kohlberg theory. Work Cited Killen, Melanie and Smetana, G. Judith. Handbook of moral development. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 2006. 102-118. Print. Hoffman, L. Martin. Empathy and Moral Development: Implications for Caring and Justice. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2001. 178-211. Print.