The world of television has seen a concerning shift in its portrayal of abortion this year. While storylines and conversations about abortion remain prevalent, with 65 appearances across various genres, the number of characters actually undergoing abortions has significantly decreased. This trend is highlighted in the annual Abortion Onscreen report, a decade-long research initiative by Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California San Francisco.
Steph Herold, a researcher involved in the report, believes this disparity reflects a deep-rooted stigma surrounding abortion, even within the supposedly liberal Hollywood industry. She points out that only about a third of on-screen characters face any barriers to accessing abortion, despite research showing that approximately 60% of real-life Americans seeking abortions encounter some form of obstacle.
The report also highlights the misrepresentation of the financial struggles faced by those seeking abortions. While 80% of characters on TV seeking abortions are from upper or middle-class backgrounds, the reality is that most abortion patients are struggling financially. This disparity obscures the role of poverty in obstructing access to abortion and fails to showcase the financial barriers many individuals face.
Another notable discrepancy is the representation of medication abortions. This year, only three out of 65 abortion storylines on TV depicted medication abortions, despite research indicating that abortion pills account for the majority of abortions in the U.S. Additionally, only 8% of characters seeking abortions on TV are parents, whereas most real-life abortion patients have at least one child.
Herold expresses disappointment over the lack of emotional support portrayed around abortions on TV this year. She also notes an increase in storylines that emphasize shame and stigma associated with abortions, particularly due to religious beliefs. These storylines, she argues, fail to acknowledge the diversity of religious observance among those having abortions and only portray religion as a prohibitive factor.
Despite abortion being a highly politicized issue, Herold emphasizes that millions of Americans have personal experiences with abortions, either personally or through supporting loved ones. She believes that diverse abortion experiences should be reflected in television storytelling to resonate with a wider audience.
On a positive note, television has made strides in representing the racial diversity of abortion seekers. While people of color are still underrepresented in abortion storylines, there has been an improvement from a decade ago when TV predominantly portrayed wealthy white women seeking abortions. This shift towards more accurate racial representation is a step in the right direction.
