Final answer:
Carol Gilligan criticized Lawrence Kohlberg's moral development theory for gender bias, noting different moral emphases in males and females, which she attributed to socialization rather than inherent moral development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carol Gilligan's criticism of Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development is centered around the notion of gender bias. Kohlberg's research, which was primarily conducted on male subjects, presented a model of moral development that Gilligan argued was not adequately representative of females. Gilligan's own research suggested that while boys may operate from a justice perspective, emphasizing rules and laws, girls typically exhibit a care and responsibility perspective, focusing more on interpersonal relationships and the context behind moral decisions. Despite her insights, Gilligan's study faced criticism for its small sample size and the lack of reproducibility in subsequent research. Furthermore, it was argued that these observed differences were less about inherent moral development and more about gender socialization—the process whereby individuals are taught societal norms based on their gender.