Feminist Bioethics

Abstract

For decades, Liberal Bioethics has neglected the social and political dimensions of health care and scientific research; for that reason, gender issues have been almost invisible in the field. In the seventies, C.Gilligan argued in favor of an alternative notion of morality, a voice different from the conventional feminine values. However, care Ethics and feminist Ethics didn"™t draw the attention of Medical Ethics and Bioethics. In the eighties, gender perspective claimed an expanded conception of bioethical discourse, in order to include women´s experience about health care, social distribution of care, and autonomous decisions. So, Feminist Bioethics emerged from a critical assessment of clinical practice, scientific research, and ethical analysis. The article considers the process that lead from care Ethics to a gendered and civic Bioethics.