Relational Morality and Sociocultural Vulnerability in Chevy Stevens’s Still Missing

Abstract

Chevy Stevens' Still Missing depicts the kidnapping of Annie O'Sullivan as a personal tragedy that is influenced by gendered indoctrination within relational moral frameworks. This article uses Carol Gilligan's theory of gendered moral development as the analytical lens to investigate how societal norms shape women to prioritize care, relational harmony, and compliance, creating structural vulnerabilities. The broader societal norms that might leave women vulnerable to exploitation, such as interpersonal relationships, conflict resolution, and internalizing social responsibility, are highlighted by Annie's experiences. The study demonstrates how relational morality can increase women's vulnerability and invisibility even when it is socially acceptable by using textual analysis to show how Stevens challenges these sociocultural frameworks. Through the examination of psychological adaptation, survival tactics, empathy, post-traumatic identity, structural vulnerability, and sociocultural forces, the study highlights the intricate relationship between sociocultural influences and gendered moral socialization.