Values can be defined as abstract ideas of what is desirable, correct and good that are shared by most or by major subsets of a society. It is values that supply conceptions whereby people evaluate themselves, others, objects, and events as to their relative worth, merit, beauty, or morality. Individuals appeal to values for the ultimate rationalities for the choices they make in life.
However, sometimes large portions of people in society have values that are in conflict. Perhaps there is no better example of values in conflict than those involving abortion in America; and this remains true despite the fact that the Supreme Court has recognized that a woman has a legal right to an abortion.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the values dilemma over abortion in America. An attempt is made to specifically reference the debate to social workers who must provide counseling to women confronted with the decision of whether or not to have an abortion.
The particular case focused upon is the case of a social worker who must provide some form of counseling to a woman who, while she has come to a family planning clinic, remains very ambivalent on moral grounds regarding her decision. The paper contrasts and compares values/beliefs on a personal, professional, agency, community and societal level.
Abortion in America: A Conflict in Values
The first component that any social worker must face in dealing with a client confronted with the decision of whether or not to have an abortion is to realize that this is a situation where personal values conflict. Regarding this conflict, Steiner (1983) reports that those with pro-life beliefs contend that abortion involves the ultimate immorality---the taking of human life. However, for those who are pro-choice, the premise that abortion is the taking of human life is denied, thereby dismissing the immorality indictment. Rather, abortion is viewed as a medical procedure th...