Are television shows accurately portraying the complexities of abortion in America? This year, while abortion storylines held steady on TV, a closer look reveals some surprising trends. Let's dive in. This year, TV featured 65 storylines about abortion across various genres, from dramas like The Pitt and Call the Midwife to reality shows and animated comedies. That's about the same as the 66 plotlines seen in 2024.
However, a significant shift is happening behind the scenes. The number of characters who actually obtained an abortion has dropped. In 2025, only 37% of characters went through with an abortion, a 14% decrease since 2023. This data comes from the annual Abortion Onscreen report, a project by Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California San Francisco.
Researcher Steph Herold points out a concerning disconnect. While approximately 60% of real-life Americans seeking abortions face barriers, only about a third of on-screen characters encounter any obstacles. These barriers can include financial constraints, lack of childcare, distance to clinics, or insurance limitations. Most TV shows in 2025 depicted women struggling to get abortions focused on legal obstacles in the past and present.
And this is the part most people miss... TV often portrays abortion patients as upper or middle class (80% of characters), but in reality, many face financial struggles. This disparity obscures the role that poverty plays in obstructing access to abortion.
Furthermore, there's a discrepancy in the types of abortions shown. Only three stories depicted medication abortions out of the 65 abortion-related plotlines this year, even though medication abortions are the most common type in the real world. Also, only 8% of TV characters seeking abortions are parents, while most real-life patients have at least one child.
Herold acknowledges that perfect reflection isn't possible, but she expresses disappointment in certain trends. Fewer characters received emotional support, and more shows emphasized shame and stigma, particularly through religious contexts. These portrayals, the report suggests, often oversimplify religious views on abortion.
But here's where it gets controversial... Millions of Americans have personal experiences with abortion. Herold believes that stories reflecting diverse experiences will resonate with viewers. One positive trend is the improved representation of race. A slight majority of characters in abortion storylines are people of color, a notable improvement from a decade ago.
What do you think? Are these on-screen portrayals of abortion accurate? Do they reflect the real-life experiences of Americans? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
