Imagine a landscape where portrayals of abortion on television are becoming less frequent, yet the stories that do appear increasingly emphasize shame and stigma. This paradox reveals complex cultural dynamics. But here's where it gets controversial—despite the similar number of TV narratives about abortion this year compared to last, the way these stories are told and the characters involved have changed significantly.
In 2024, TV shows featured about 66 storylines addressing abortion, including acclaimed dramas such as 'The Pitt' and 'Call the Midwife,' reality programs like 'W.A.G.s to Riches' and 'Love is Blind,' as well as animated comedies like 'Family Guy' and 'South Park.' While the quantity remains steady, the depth and accuracy of these depictions tell a different story. For instance, the recent Abortion Onscreen report highlights a concerning decline in characters who follow through with an abortion—only 37% of characters seeking abortions in 2025 actually undergo the procedure, marking a 14% drop from 2023.
This report, produced by the University of California San Francisco’s Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health program, emphasizes a persistent gap: Hollywood’s depiction of abortion continues to lag behind real-world experiences. According to researcher Steph Herold, despite Hollywood’s reputation for liberal openness, there remains a strong stigma around abortion. She explains that the report, which has been tracking trends for about a decade, indicates that only about a third of on-screen characters face any meaningful barriers to obtaining an abortion—be it financial struggles, lack of childcare support, distant clinics, or insurance issues. In real life, however, roughly 60% of individuals seeking abortions encounter significant hurdles, primarily related to poverty or logistical problems.
This disconnect results in narratives that often focus on legal barriers or institutional challenges from the past and present, but rarely mirror the financial difficulties many actual patients face. While 80% of characters seeking abortions on TV are depicted as upper or middle class, most real patients struggle financially. This disparity blurs an understanding of how poverty influences access to abortion and may explain why TV rarely shows characters confronting the economic barriers that many genuinely experience.
A particularly striking example from this year is a storyline on 'The Pitt' where a teenager searches for abortion pills—a rare depiction, as medication abortions account for the majority of real-world procedures. Yet, on TV, only three out of 65 abortion plotlines involved medication abortion, reflecting a significant gap in representation. Additionally, the majority of characters seeking abortions on screen are portrayed as childless; in reality, most individuals having abortions are already parents.
Herold acknowledges that TV will never perfectly mirror the complexity of real-life abortion use, but she is disappointed by certain trends. Notably, fewer characters now receive emotional support post-abortion, and there’s an uptick in storylines that spotlight shame, especially through religious lenses. These narratives tend to depict religious characters as uniformly Christian and frame religion solely as an obstacle, ignoring the diverse spiritual backgrounds and supportive roles religion can play.
Despite the political sensitivities surrounding abortion, Herold emphasizes that millions of Americans have personal experience with it—whether through personal procedures or supporting loved ones. Consequently, diverse stories could resonate widely, making the topic more relatable and less stigmatized.
Yet, there is a positive note: TV is improving in representing the racial diversity of those seeking abortions. Recently, a majority of characters in abortion-related storylines are people of color, aligning more closely with real-world statistics, where minority groups constitute the majority of abortion patients. Decades ago, portrayals were skewed toward wealthier, white women, but this trend is changing—an encouraging sign of increasing inclusivity.
Ultimately, the way TV depicts abortion continues to evolve, but many questions remain: Are these portrayals helping to demystify and destigmatize abortion, or are they reinforcing harmful stereotypes? How do we balance artistic storytelling with accurate representation? And most importantly, how can media better reflect the realities—and diversity—of those who seek reproductive choices? Share your thoughts below—do you believe television is doing enough, or is it still missing the mark?
