This essay posits that employed women are in a quandary between two ethics, equity and care, in relation to the household division of labor. Typically, most women resolve the quandary by placing a higher priority on gendered behavior. To explain the moral rationales that women use to prioritize the ethic of care and to articulate the ethical dilemmas of employed women, the author uses the frameworks of both Benhabib and Gilligan. Benhabib's characterization of each domain is useful in identifying ethical principles, in drawing distinctions, and in suggesting resolutions. Gilligan's theory of moral reasoning specifies the process by which the ethic of care is initially embraced and then modified. To resolve the dilemma, the concrete other (i.e., the ethic of care) might be integrated with aspects of the generalized other.
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