Unit 8Section 1 Exercise 5 Cultural Values: The Example of Reproductive Politics

Contraception and abortion can divide health care providers. The following is a link to a commentary about physicians in a practice who disagree about providing contraceptive counseling. Contraception scenario The news has recently reported that some pharmacies will not carry contraceptives, especially limiting access in rural areas. Some pharmacies have long refused to carry emergency contraception. To what extent should personal and political convictions and values affect the kind of health care an individual professional provides? Listen to the following song and answer the discussion questions.

Study Questions

1. The song’s composer, Glenn Newell, writes the following: "What comes first the music or the words?" In this case a simple play on “RU” turned into a song about how issues divide us. The key lyric is “when you hold your values too tight you choke them”. What do you think of this statement?

2. How does this ‘rock representation’ of this controversial issue affect the discussion? Is song, or art, for that matter, an effective venue for exploring controversy?