Full Breakdown
Evolving Portrayals of Abortion on Television in 2025
12/13/2025, 9:46:56 PM
Key Findings from the 2025 Abortion Onscreen Report
The 2025 Abortion Onscreen report, produced by Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California San Francisco, reveals significant trends in the portrayal of abortion on television. This year, 65 storylines addressed abortion across various genres, including dramas like *The Pitt* and *Call the Midwife*, reality shows such as *W.A.G.s to Riches* and *Love is Blind*, and animated comedies like *Family Guy* and *South Park*. Despite the consistent number of storylines compared to 2024, there was a notable decline in the percentage of characters who chose to have an abortion, dropping to 37%—a 14% decrease from 2023.
Stigma and Misrepresentation in Television
Researcher Steph Herold highlights that the representation of abortion in Hollywood often fails to reflect the realities faced by individuals seeking abortions. Approximately 60% of real-life abortion seekers encounter various barriers, yet only about a third of on-screen characters experience similar challenges. The majority of characters depicted as seeking abortions are portrayed as upper or middle-class, which obscures the financial difficulties that many real-life patients face. Furthermore, only 8% of characters seeking abortions on television are parents, contrasting sharply with real-world statistics where most abortion patients have at least one child.
Shifting Themes in Storylines
In 2025, television narratives increasingly focused on legal obstacles rather than providing emotional support for characters undergoing abortions. Programs such as *Chicago Med*, *1923*, and *Breathless* have emphasized shame and stigma, often through a religious lens. These portrayals tend to inaccurately depict religious individuals as uniformly opposed to abortion, neglecting the diversity of beliefs and the supportive roles that some may play in abortion decision-making.
Improvements in Racial Representation
Despite the ongoing issues with stigma and misrepresentation, there has been progress in the racial representation of characters involved in abortion storylines. A slight majority of characters depicted in these plots are now people of color, marking a significant improvement from a decade ago when portrayals were predominantly wealthy and white.
Official Statements & Responses
Herold expressed disappointment over the trends in representation, noting that fewer characters received emotional support around their abortions this year. She emphasized the importance of narratives that reflect the diverse experiences of abortion, stating, "Millions of Americans have had some sort of experience with abortions, whether it's having one themselves or helping a daughter or a friend."
Conclusion: The Need for Better Representation
As societal attitudes toward abortion continue to evolve, it is crucial for media representations to keep pace. Enhancing understanding and reducing stigma through more accurate portrayals can resonate more deeply with viewers, reflecting the complex realities of abortion experiences in America.
