Conference Venue: University of Abertay, Dundee Scottish Branch
From: 12 Mar 2008 To: 12 Mar 2008
Individual Paper(s)
Queering Moral Development
University of Stirling
Objectives: This project will use Queer theory to deconstruct discourses concerning gender in moral development texts. Analysis of psychology textbooks will examine power relations and reproductions embedded in the text.
Design: Critical discourse analysis was employed and adapted to provide a queer deconstruction.
Methods: Introductory psychology textbooks were analysed, one a mainstream text and the other a deconstructive textbook and this enabled queer analysis to be carried out at varying levels of text
Results: The conceptualisation of morality is gendered in a way in which positions women as lacking and disjointed from a sense of moral justice. Women are placed as subjects within a sexist discourse. When oppressive discourses are challenged they are replaced with further potentially biased categorisations.
Conclusions: Call for critical evaluation of textbooks. Further research into discourse concerning women and the law is recommended and queer theory needs further development in the areas of providing practical empowerment.
