Which cognitive development theorist was criticized by Gilligan for gender bias?

• A. Lawrence Kohlberg
• B. Jean Piaget
• C. Erik Erikson
• D. Lev Vygotsky

Answer: (A)

Gilligan challenged Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development by arguing it carries gender bias. Kohlberg’s model emphasizes justice, rights, and abstract principles as the mark of higher moral reasoning, a view rooted in studies predominantly with male participants. Gilligan pointed out that many people—especially women—reason morally through an ethics of care, focusing on relationships, responsibility, and context. This critique highlights a bias in measuring moral maturity, suggesting that Kohlberg’s criteria undervalued a different but equally valid moral perspective. The other listed theorists—Piaget, Erikson, and Vygotsky—are linked to cognitive, psychosocial, and sociocultural development respectively, but Gilligan’s gender-bias critique centers on Kohlberg’s work.