Rational and Caring People

Rational economic man is not necessarily selfish, but he doesn't pay much attention to his relationships with others. Feminist economics has never aimed to replace him with his idealized mirror image—irrational loving woman—but to move beyond these polarized stereotypes to develop a broader perspective—economics for humans.6⁴ Feminist values emerge from opposition to arbitrary inequalities; feminist science delves into the rich experience of women's incomplete empowerment.

Adam Smith's interest in the moral sentiments can be restated in modern terms: the precept of‘‘do unto others—male or female—as you would have them do unto you'' helps solve coordination problems. Norms of trust and reciprocity have economic consequences, as do norms of care and obligation. Unfortunately these two normative categories are now somewhat at odds: highly gendered and uneven responsibilities for the care of dependents undermine trust and reciprocity between men and women, old and young, rich and poor.