As a long-time advocate for women’s reproductive rights and someone who has seen the lack of accurate abortion representation in media, I find this study by USC Annenberg’s Norman Lear Center to be nothing short of revolutionary. It’s high time we had TV shows that portray abortion not as a sensationalized drama but as a medical procedure with real-life implications.
A recent study by the USC Annenberg’s Norman Lear Center suggests that portrayals of medically accurate stories on abortion in media can serve as an educational tool, reaching and informing audiences regardless of their political beliefs.
Researchers examined the impact of abortion depictions on television in a study titled “Abortion Depictions on Television: Impact on Audience Knowledge and Mobilization.” They surveyed 1,016 adults who watched three TV episodes featuring medically accurate portrayals of the procedure. These viewers were then tested for their understanding of abortion and their inclination to take action following the viewing of either the “Fresh Start” episode of A Million Little Things (2022), the “No, I’m Not Gonna Tell Her” episode of Better Things (2022) or the “The Little Things You Do Together” episode of Station 19 (2022).
In this study, conducted in May 2022, both viewers who had only occasionally watched the series and those who could recall specific abortion episodes were surveyed. Information about their demographics, particularly their political beliefs, was collected. Importantly, this research took place before the Supreme Court decision in June of that year to overturn Roe v. Wade, which effectively ended the constitutional right to abortion.
The “A Million Little Things” episode included a scenario where a radio host was providing guidance to a woman contemplating whether to inform her family about an upcoming abortion. Researchers discovered that the show’s audience, predominantly women, gained more awareness regarding the financial aspect of an early-term abortion. This group, particularly women and moderately-aligned individuals, showed increased knowledge on how to assist a friend in need of an abortion. Men, on the other hand, displayed enhanced comprehension about medication abortions.
In a pivotal episode of “Better Things,” a narrative thread unfolded over several episodes, where a character’s daughter concealed her decision to have an abortion from her mother. Interestingly, studies have shown that both conservative and moderate viewers who were exposed to this plotline displayed improved understanding about the safety of abortions.
In the latest episode of Station 19, one character went through a medication abortion, backed by her partner’s unwavering support. This portrayal led to a more comprehensive grasp among viewers regarding the commonness of first-trimester abortions, with both conservative and liberal viewers showing increased awareness. Moreover, liberal viewers seemed to appreciate the show’s depiction of the diverse religious beliefs among those seeking abortions.
It’s worth mentioning that among the three storylines, it was “Station 19” that prompted viewers to engage in more actions advocating for abortion access. This engagement was observed across various political spectrums, with viewers from all perspectives frequently posting about reproductive rights on social media following the episode. Moreover, liberal viewers were particularly active in commenting on social media posts, participating in rallies, and joining volunteer groups related to abortion.
The results of the study were presented at a Thursday event that included Dr. Austin Dennard from Texas OB-GYN and UT Southwestern Medical Center as well as Rina Mimoun, showrunner of The Girls on the Bus, Soraya Giaccardi, senior researcher at USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center Media Impact Project, and Melissa Goodman, executive director of UCLA Law’s Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy.
The importance of researchers examining truthful representations of abortion in media is highlighted due to a lack of extensive research on this specific topic. Previous investigations into media portrayals of abortion have often noted that the procedure has been excessively dramatized and misrepresented in fictional content, as stated by the authors of the USC study. For instance, one past analysis of television abortion storylines from 2005 to 2016 revealed that depictions frequently exaggerated potential medical risks associated with the procedure. Another study covering the years 2015 to 2019 found a tendency for these narratives to underrepresent people of color, low-income individuals, and parents who seek abortions, when compared to the actual demographics of U.S. abortion patients.
The USC report shifted its focus towards TV shows that presented medically accurate information about abortion, including emotional depth and discussions on abortion-related stigma. It appears that these authentic representations had an impact. In summary, the findings of this study highlight the potential of entertainment media to educate viewers, correct misconceptions, and even spur audiences into action, as suggested by the authors.
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2024-08-30 20:26