Rights, responsibility, and relationship: Motivations for women's social activism

A narrative analysis of interviews with 50 women who were working for socia l change as professionals av volunteers revealed three motivations for acti vism: (a) to ensure rights, (b) to fulfill responsibilities, and (c) to res tore relationships and build community. The three motivations reflect a mod ified ethic of care, which includes concern for distant and unfamiliar othe rs. The women's spirituality supports the modified care ethic by emphasizin g the interdependence of all life.