Carol Gilligan's model that proposes stages for female moral development was partially based upon -- and partially in opposition to -- the works of male psychologists whose models seemed to indicate that females were developmentally inferior to males. Gilligan determined that females were not actually morally or cognitively lower than males, but rather that they operated according to different inward "rules" at different stages in life. Based upon these observations, Gilligan formulated three stages of moral reasoning development, calling the overall system an "Ethic of Care."
Gilligan's first stage of moral reasoning development is the "preconventional." Although she does not give precise age brackets for this stage, it typically covers the earliest years of life. During the preconventional stage, a person's goal is individual survival. She has no thought for the welfare of those around her but simply must have her own needs met. When a child begins to show concern for the welfare of others, instead of simply manifesting selfishness, she is moving onto the second of Gilligan's stages. Keep in mind that while cognitive development is simultaneous, Gilligan is actually looking at the development of another aspect of the person -- the development of moral reasoning.
In the second stage of the "Ethic of Care," termed "conventional," females transition from selfishness to a belief that "self sacrifice is goodness." Basically, at this stage, the individual is trying to do things to both help and please those around her, sensing that this is innately good. Her mind is no longer focused on simply surviving or getting things for herself, but on caring for those in her circle of family and friends.
The third and final of Gilligan's stages is the "Postconventional." A person transitions to this stage when she comes to the realization that although it is good to serve others, she herself is a person too, and therefore she must not neglect her own needs. The guiding moral principle to a person at this stage of development is that of nonviolence; she strives to not hurt others or herself. Instead of only thinking about what is good for others before acting, she also considers the effect that action will have on herself. She strives to do things that are in the best interest of everyone, herself included.