A Cross Cultural Analysis of Women's Perceptions of Morality

This study is a cross-cultural comparative analysis
of women s perceptions of morality through their
concepts of self and responsibility. Questions
elicited from Carol Gilligan s book, A Different
Voice, were used as the instrument for evaluating
two samples of women: Costa Rica and Iowa. A
considerable amount of research done over the effect
of culture on women s perceptions of morality and
self provide controversial findings with respect to
the women s orientation towards justice or care.
After administering six questions to eighty women in
two different cultures, the results suggested that
both groups of women elicited the care perspective
in their responses, consistent with Gilligan s
findings. The effects of educational attainment and
culture did seem to influence the women s responses,
but yet did not obstruct the care voice.