Story perspectives

2025 Report: Abortion on Screen Sees Stigma and Class Divide

12/13/2025

Summary

Story summary

In 2025, 37% of depicted characters choose abortion, a 14% decrease from 2023.
The Abortion Onscreen report highlights ongoing stigma and notes most characters are upper or middle class, while real-life seekers face barriers.
Only 8% of on-screen abortion seekers are parents, contrasting with real-world statistics.
Recent narratives emphasize shame, especially through religious perspectives, while racial representation improves, with a slight majority of abortion-plot characters being people of color.

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Story summary

In 2025, 37% of depicted characters choose abortion, a 14% decrease from 2023.
The Abortion Onscreen report highlights ongoing stigma and notes most characters are upper or middle class, while real-life seekers face barriers.
Only 8% of on-screen abortion seekers are parents, contrasting with real-world statistics.
Recent narratives emphasize shame, especially through religious perspectives, while racial representation improves, with a slight majority of abortion-plot characters being people of color.