Autonomy or Interdependence: A Forced Choice?

Please use this as your main source:
Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine-French (2017). Lifespan Development: A Psychological Perspective. Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International.
Discussion Post.
There is an emphasis in American culture on developing a strong sense of autonomy and independence as we grow older. Although Erikson was keenly aware that there is a constant tension between independence and belonging, a theme running throughout his developmental theory is that in order to advance to higher stages of development we must achieve a stronger sense of independence, increasingly liberating ourselves from our dependence upon others. Is our focus in America on autonomy and independence an unmitigated good or are there other possibilities?
Looking at moral reasoning in America, Carol Gilligan contends that the emphasis on autonomy and independence is based on a masculine ideal, whereas a focus on social relationships, empathy, and interconnectedness lies at the heart of the feminist perspective.
MUST NUMBER THE QUESTIONS IN YOUR POST. It will help you to organize your writing.
1) In your initial discussion post, please describe Gilligan’s case for gender bias in Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning. How does she justify her argument?
2) How does her theory of moral reasoning relate to Erikson’s ideas about the relationship between autonomy and intimacy?
3) Finally, in your own upbringing, were interdependence/empathy or independence/autonomy emphasized more?
4)At what ages (be specific with at least one example)?
5) Did the focus change as you grew older?
6) Was it different in your family depending on your gender?
7) What perspective would you try to emphasize with your own (perhaps hypothetical) children?
8) Would it be different for different genders?
This last set of questions is asking for your opinion about these issues in moral reasoning and there is not a correct answer, but you should engage the course readings in your responses.
General Discussion Instructions
Your total response should be at least 150-250 words. Your explanations should be complete, clear, concise, thorough, and supported by cited information from a class learning resource, and follow APA style with your in-text citation and reference.
Bold/Underline Concepts
**(Numbering the questions and bolding the concepts helps you to organize your writing and helps me to identify your answers clearly so you get credit for them!)
Show evidence of thoroughly reading and listening to the course resources. This is preferable to outside research. But if you provide additional resources, they will be graded on their scholarly credibility; that means sources of questionable truth may result in a lower grade on the post and sources of good credibility may result in a higher grade.