'When I Get to the Border'

Grey’s Anatomy Storyline Highlighting Abortion Restrictions Sparks Social Media Discussion

​After Roe v. Wade was overturned, Grey’s Anatomy addressed the real-world impact of abortion bans with input from health experts. The Lear Center’s Media Impact Project analyzed Reddit reactions to a 2022 episode, revealing how the show’s storytelling sparked public dialogue and reflected viewers’ real-life concerns.

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Abortion Depictions on TV

A new study conducted with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at UCSF finds that accurate portrayals of abortion in storylines on A Million Little Things (ABC), Better Things (FX), and Station 19 (ABC) fostered greater understanding of abortion access, prevalence, and safety, and even inspired some to take actions in support of reproductive rights.

This research highlights the critical role entertainment media play in countering medical misinformation about abortion, even in a post-Dobbs world.

Read the report.

Why Abortion on TV Needs More Choices

Since the dawn of television, there have been over 400 plotlines about abortion, but this common medical procedure is often overdramatized and inaccurately depicted on TV. If you work in entertainment and want to write about abortion accurately, contact the Norman Lear Center's Hollywood, Health & Society program.
The Norman Lear Center's Media Impact Project researches how entertainment and news influence our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and actions. We work with researchers, the film and TV industry, nonprofits, and news organizations, and share our research with the public. We are part of the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.