Why Roe vs. Wade should make us check where our values are anchored
Knowing your values, and being accepting of what others hold dear, is the key to reducing divisiveness, Mitra's Julia Anderson writes.
Published 6 July 2022 / Julia Anderson
What happens when an issue comes to light that is highly divisive? How can we stay respectful to different views while holding true to what we value? How do we find common ground?
Dr Suze Wilson’s article on Roe vs. Wade and the ‘Chris Luxon dilemma’ tackles this topic. She discusses what can happen when deeply-held beliefs are challenged – and it’s food for thought for communications practitioners everywhere.
We have already seen how other polarising issues such as mandatory vaccination have played out here and how it can drive a wedge between family members, friend groups and communities.
It can be hard to tackle conflict and opposing views with empathy and openness. This makes it more challenging to find common ground that can form the basis for a way forward.
“Thank goodness we are tucked away in New Zealand,” one social media commenter said of the Roe vs. Wade decision. Unfortunately, geographical remoteness is no panacea for the spread of values and biases that can tip the balance toward wider divisive and discriminatory influences gaining traction.
“We have seen the defensive response that rises up from fear.”
What does this mean for us as communication practitioners? It’s not about this one issue, and it’s not about a particular political figure or philosophy. It’s about the role of personal values, and the impact on our work – whether we are in the private, public or not-for profit sector, and whatever our political stance.
Values are our innate sense of what matters most. They are part of our kaupapa and āhuatanga. They shape us, and we shape society – what’s acceptable, what’s important and what we need to stand up for and stand against.
Information can be used to appeal to people’s values and persuade them to act – for good or ill. In the last couple of years especially, we have seen how disinformation can be used as a global tool to incite fear that people’s values are being challenged and their rights are being taken away. We have seen the defensive response that rises up from fear.
In their handbook, the Common Cause Foundation says: “Values represent our guiding principles – our motivations that influence our attitudes and actions. They are a strong guiding force, shaping our attitudes and behaviours over the course of our lives. They influence our politics, career choices, ecological footprint, feelings of wellbeing and more.”
As communication practitioners, are we sure we know explicitly where our personal values are anchored? If not, how do we stay true to what we believe? How do we use our influence in ways that line up with our values?
And more importantly, how do we make sure we are not unwittingly complicit in helping drive long-term agendas that go against our values? (The roll-back of Roe vs. Wade, for example, was decades in coming to fruition, as people got angled into positions of power where they could influence the rhetoric over time).
“Without a solid understanding of our own values, and those around us, how will we know what our non-negotiables are?”
I think the answer to these questions starts with a human-centred approach to ourselves. As my colleague Kassy Hayden said, “being human-centred in communications practice means considering our own needs as well as those of our staff, and the people we work with. No one is left behind.”
As a practitioner I have often felt pulled this way and that as organisational leaders used the communications process to tussle and play politics. I’ve had the unsavoury experience of being in the meetings where it’s clear I’m expected to take notes of the ‘key messages’ and then ‘comms it out’.
Sometimes, this resulted in communicating things I knew made little sense and would not resonate with the audiences. Fortunately, the stakes were not high on those occasions.
But in these times, it matters very much. Kassy and I are really interested in how the study of human values can help strengthen our practice, and that of the wider profession. We’re testing ways of bringing values to the centre of our work. Without a solid understanding of our own values, and of those around us, how will we know what our non-negotiables are? How will we be able to listen openly to those with opposing views and still hold our ground? How will we be able to influence with compassion and strength?
We’d love to hear what you think about how values can be leveraged to strengthen the communications practice and increase its influence for good. Drop a comment below or email us at hello@mitra.nz to share your thoughts.