The feminist theory is concerned with equality of women but in turn it stands for equality in general. The theory presses for equal rights where both male and female roles are equal and unified. These are issues that range from equal opportunity to freedom from domestic violence. In turn this theory looks into the social roles that women perform in a traditional western setting. With this in mind the theory has changed and will continue to change until the equality is attained. The theories origin can be noticed as early as the 15th century by the writing of Christine de Pizan and will continue to evolve.
The feminist theory is based upon caring and compassion. With this in mind Judgments are made cautiously, with the focus on moral sensitivity and perception. The question of right or wrong is considered in the sense of one-caring; the one-caring acts as one would for oneself (Freeman, 2000). Ethical judgment is viewed as a full spectrum of endless possibilities, responses, and solutions. Laws, rules, and rationale hold little regard in feminist judgment. The emphasis is placed on the justification and the motivation for the act in question. Moral dilemmas are handled as situations in need of caring and trust, not as problems in need of solutions. Feminist ethics has many elements. Some major elements are theories regarding “why women and men have held unequal power across time and place, why knowledge has historically been accumulated by and for men and excluded women, and how men and women can rectify these problems and achieve equality” (“Feminist theories,” 2001). Other major elements include morality, sentiment, and virtue. The virtue described in the feminist ethic is “one of caring, which is built up in relations; one reaching out to the other and growing in response to the other” (Freeman, 2000). Friendship, love, and trust are also important parts