On a September morning at New York University, a group of 17 students gathered to learn about listening from Carol Gilligan, a psychologist and feminist scholar recognized for her pioneering work on moral psychology and feminist theory. Approaching her 90th birthday, Gilligan emphasized a style of "radical listening" that values curiosity and openness over judgment, encouraging her students to engage deeply with both spoken and unspoken elements of others' stories.

Gilligan’s development of this listening method has its roots in her groundbreaking research in the early 1970s. While investigating women’s moral reasoning, particularly in the context of abortion decisions following the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, she observed that women's perspectives often centered on relationships and responsibilities rather than abstract principles of justice or morality. This insight challenged the male-centered paradigms dominant in psychological research at the time and led to her influential 1982 book *In a Different Voice*. The work not only established her as a key feminist thinker but also sparked considerable debate.

While *In a Different Voice* became a bestseller, translated into 20 languages and reprinted over 50 times, it also faced criticism from multiple angles. Some feminists argued that Gilligan’s portrayal of women as natural caregivers risked reinforcing gender stereotypes, while some academics questioned the rigor of her anecdotal research methods. Writer Anna Quindlen later suggested that these criticisms oversimplified Gilligan’s nuanced approach, which she viewed as distinct from the binary framing of equality versus difference feminism prevalent at the time.

Despite the controversies, Gilligan’s concepts remain influential. Her listening method has been applied in diverse fields, including psychological studies on depression and eating disorders, and in cross-cultural research on subjects such as Ugandan mothers of child soldiers and women serving in the Israeli military. An international handbook titled *The Listening Guide Method*, based on her approach and co-edited by Gilligan, recently expanded the academic use of her techniques. Gilligan herself plans to author a new book focused on deep listening.

Gilligan’s current seminars draw students from varied backgrounds, many seeking to incorporate her techniques into their future professions. Among them are law students aiming to improve their capacity to listen empathetically in sensitive contexts like interviewing victims of sexual violence. Gilligan encourages the group to build connection through simple exercises, such as associating names with animals, to enhance memory and engagement—tools she believes are essential in becoming a better listener.

Through her decades-long career, Gilligan has highlighted the ongoing importance of voice and listening in understanding human experience, particularly from perspectives historically marginalized in psychology. As societal discussions about gender and communication continue, her work retains relevance, pointing to the challenges that remain in achieving greater equality and empathy.