THE DECISION TO ABORT: NO SEX-ROLE BIAS, AND LITTLE ENTHUSIASM

Abstract

The hypothetical decision to abort a genetically defective fetus was studied as a function of the subject's gender, the gender of the fetus, and the nature of the fetal impairment (physical versus mental defect). A questionnaire technique was employed, with a sample of students (N = 181) who were asked to imagine that they faced this decision themselves. No evidence was found for sex-role bias with regard to the gender of the fetus, or its interaction with type of defect. The only significant factor found was that females were more opposed to aborting than males. Both males and females expressed a wide range of attitudes, but showed anti-abortion views overall.