Belenkey, Clinchy, Goldberg, and Tarule’s Women’s Ways of Knowing

Belenkey et al., (Evans et al., 1998) researched cognitive development with the paradigm that there is more to know about development in women, beyond the masculine-dominated theories that exist. The researchers focused on, “what else might be important to note about women’s intellectual development” (Evans et al., 1998, p. 147). The researchers conducted 135 interviews with women to get at the ‘what else’ part that women add to cognitive development. Their book, Women’s Ways of Knowing, shares their observations, emphasizing core concepts like the importance of a voice in intellectual and ethical development, as well as denoting the five perspectives which guide their theory.