[2]: 471 Assumptions of the framework include: persons are understood to have varying degrees of dependence and interdependence; other individuals affected by the consequences of one's choices deserve consideration in proportion to their vulnerability; and situational details determine how to safeguard and promote the interests of individuals.
[4] Gilligan argued that Kohlberg's model was not objective, but rather a masculine perspective on morality, founded on principles of justice and rights.
Her theory claimed women tended to emphasize empathy and compassion over the notions of morality in terms of abstract duties or obligations that are privileged in Kohlberg's scale.
[7][8][9] Gilligan's summarizing of gender differences provided feminists with a voice to question moral values and practices of the society as masculine.
[16][17] While some feminists have criticized care-based ethics for reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes,[18] others have embraced parts of the paradigm under the theoretical concept of care-focused feminism.
Joan Tronto argues that the definition of "ethic of care" is ambiguous due in part to it not playing a central role in moral theory.
[12]: 220 The ethics of care is contrasted with theories based on the "liberal individual" and a social contract, following Locke and Hobbes.
Ethics-of-care theorists note that in many situations, such as childhood, there are very large power imbalances between individuals, and so these relationships are based on care rather than any form of contract.
[27] In the field of nursing, the ethics of care has been criticized by Peter Allmark, Helga Kuhse, and John Paley.
[28] Allmark also criticized the theory for conflicting with the idea of treating everyone with unbiased consideration, which he considered necessary in certain situations.