Final answer:
The statement suggesting a shift in feminist ethics from relational to individualistic theories is false. Feminist ethics emphasize relational aspects and an ethics of care rather than adopting individualistic frameworks, aiming to create more inclusive and just moral systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "One can see a shift in emphasis in feminist ethics away from relational theories and toward individualistic theories" is false. Feminist ethics have historically critiqued traditional normative theories for their tendency to devalue feminine qualities and exclude the perspectives of oppressed groups. Feminists argue that the patriarchal nature of these systems emphasizes competition and abstraction, which overshadow the feminine values of care, relationship, and community. Instead, feminist ethics have sought to emphasize an ethics of care that centers on interpersonal relations, focusing on moral frameworks that consider situational dynamics and the needs of all individuals, particularly the vulnerable and oppressed.
Feminist ethics challenge the foundational claims of deontological and duty-centric frameworks by highlighting that these theories often reflect and perpetuate the injustices and biases inherent in a patriarchal society. The critique goes against the idea that morality is exclusively tied to rationality—a notion historically used to marginalize women—arguing instead for a valuation of the emotional and relational aspects of human experience. Carol Gilligan and other feminist theorists reject the idea that moral reasoning as characterized by male-dominated studies is superior, promoting an alternative approach that values traits traditionally associated with femininity, such as empathy and attentive care in ethical deliberation.
Moreover, the postmodern feminist ethics assert that the male-oriented nature of classical ethical theories should be confronted and replaced by a framework that seeks to dismantle social and political oppression of women, creating a value theory infused with the female perspective.