The Prevalence & Context of Reproductive Health Portrayals Across 100 Popular Films PDF Free Download
1 / 17/17
100%
The Prevalence & Context of
Reproductive Health Portrayals
Across 100 Popular Films
Dr. Stacy L. Smith & Dr. Katherine Pieper
October 2024
THE PREVALENCE & CONTEXT OF REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH PORTRAYLS ACROSS POPULAR FILMS
USC ANNENBERG INCLUSION INITIATIVE
@Inclusionists
42%
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PORTRAYALS ARE RARE IN POPULAR FILMS
Across 100 top films from 2023...
OF MOVIES
SHOWCASED
ONE OR MORE
REPRODUCTIVE
PORTRAYALS
1 portrayal
25 films
6 films 2 portrayals
3 portrayals
4 portrayals
11 portrayals
4 films
6 films
1 film
0 15 30 45 60 75
PREGNANCY MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Across the 100 top-grossing films of 2023...
81
REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH
PORTRAYALS
ACROSS 100
TOP FILMS
65.4% involved pregnancy
9.9% involved menstruation
8.6% involved contraception
7.4% involved general reproductive health
4.9% involved abortion
2.5% involved infertility
1.2% involved miscarriage
©2024 DR. STACY L. SMITH
PREGNANT CHARACTERS ARE MET WITH VIOLENCE
Portrayals of pregnant characters across 100 top films in 2023...
EVENT
FILM TITLE OUTCOME FOR
MOTHER
CHARACTER
NAME
OUTCOME FOR
PREGNANCY
Anna
Beth
Sorenne Fielding
Natsuko
Maya
Amanda Collins
Victoria/Bella Baxter
“Jim’s Wife”
Killers of the Flower Moon
Evil Dead Rise
Exorcist: Believer
The Boy and The Heron
The Creator
Thanksgiving
Poor Things
Pathaan
Murdered
Demon Attack
Earthquake
Trapped in Wind Tunnel
Explosion
Car Accident
Attempted Suicide
Murdered
Dies
Lives
Dies
Lives
Lives
Dies
Lives
Dies
Ends
Remains pregnant
Baby delivered
Baby delivered
Ends
Ends
Baby delivered & killed
Ends
2
FILMS
AND TWO
CHARACTERS
EXPERIENCED
INFERTILITY
8characters in 2023 were shown in relation to
menstruation
6characters in 2023 appeared in the same film: Are
You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
2characters in 2023 were from an underrepresented
racial/ethnic group
DEPICTIONS OF INFERTILITY & MENSTRUATION ARE ERASED
Portrayals of infertility and mentruation across 100 top films in 2023...
ABORTION IS ABSENT ACROSS THE MOST POPULAR FILMS OF 2023
4 FILMS CONTAINED ANY REFERENCE TO ABORTION
Only 1 comment referred to a terminated pregnancy
©2024 DR. STACY L. SMITH
3 536 47 2 1
REPRODUCTIVE PORTRAYALS ARE ABSENT IN POPULAR FILMS
Films missing reproductive portrayals across 100 top films in 2023...
42
9764 93 9695 9998 58
Pregnancy ContraceptionMenstruation General
Reproductive
Health
Abortion Infertility Miscarriage All Films
OR 7 OF 14 MOVIES WITH 1+ WOMAN DIRECTORS
HAD AT LEAST ONE PORTRAYAL OF
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
OR 35 OF 86 FILMS WITH MALE DIRECTORS
HAD AT LEAST 1 PORTRYAL OF
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
40.7%
50%
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PORTRAYALS BY DIRECTOR GENDER
Portrayals of reproductive health across 100 top films of 2023...
The only reference to abortion
across 100 films was:
“scraped out, she was,
like a rotten pumpkin,
your baby.”
The dialogue was said by a
demon in a horror film written
and directed by men.
©2024 DR. STACY L. SMITH
1
The Prevalence & Context of Reproductive Health Portrayals Across 100 Popular Films
Dr. Stacy L. Smith & Dr. Katherine Pieper
USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative
October 2024
Key Findings
Prevalence
Across the 100 top-grossing films of 2023, 42% (n=42) of movies showcased one or more
reproductive portrayals while 58% (n=58) did not.
Most films (n=25) featured only one portrayal related to reproductive health. Six films included 2
portrayals, 4 films featured 3 portrayals, 6 films depicted 4 portrayals, and 1 film showed 11
portrayals.
Reproductive portrayals were most likely to be observed in dramas (66.7%) and comedies (50%).
Roughly one-third of action (34.4%) and animated (33.3%) films featured a reproductive portrayal.
Depictions of reproductive health were least likely to be seen in horror films (21.4%).
Among films with an MPAA rating, 57.9% of R-rated films, 31.1% of PG-13-rated movies, and 23.1%
of PG-rated fare included any reproductive portrayals.
The 42 movies with reproductive health depictions featured 81 distinct portrayals.
Of the 81 portrayals, the majority (65.4%) were focused on pregnancy. Menstruation was the focus
of 9.9% of depictions, 8.6% centered on contraception, and 7.4% dealt with general reproductive
health. Few portrayals dealt with abortion (4.9%, n=4), infertility (2.5%, n=2) or miscarriage (1.2%,
n=1).
Pregnancy
There were 53 portrayals related to pregnancy that occurred across these 36 films. Two individuals
who experienced pregnancy were not shown on screen or did not speak, leaving a total of 51
speaking or named pregnant characters.
In terms of race/ethnicity, 39.2% of the pregnant women (n=20) were White, while 19.6% were Black
(n=10) and 19.6% were Asian (n=10). Few pregnant women were shown from other races or
ethnicities.
In terms of age, most pregnancy depictions occurred for characters between 21 and 39 years of age
(80.4%, n=41), with a few (5.9%, n=3) shown in middle age (40-64 years of age). There were 5 (9.8%)
teen pregnancies shown or referenced in the films examined. Two characters 65 years of age or
older referred to a past pregnancy, but did not disclose the age at which they conceived.
Three of the pregnant characters were LGBTQ+-identified.
2
Not all pregnancies proceeded smoothly on screen. 8 pregnant women faced violence, natural
disasters, accidents, and suicide that threatened their lives and pregnancies. Five of these women
died while pregnant and three survived. Violence and accidents ended the pregnancies of four
women, and in one case a child was delivered and killed. Violence was also the cause of the only
miscarriage (The Creator) that occurred across the 100 most popular films of 2023.
Menstruation
Three of the most popular films in 2023 featured 8 portrayals of menstruation. These 8 characters
represent less than one percent (0.5%) of all girls and women (n=1,543) across the movies studied.
The majority of menstruation portrayals (n=6 of 8) occurred in just one film: Are You There God? It’s
Me, Margaret. These depictions dealt primarily with the onset of menstruation for 4 young
characters in the movie and associated informational presentations or discussion of a first period
(n=2). The two other characters who discussed menstruation did so in the context of trying to
determine if pregnancy occurred (His Only Son) or before engaging in sexual activity (Saltburn).
Six of the eight characters who were portrayed in relation to menstruation were White (75%) and 2
characters (1 Black/African American, 1 Middle Eastern/North African) were from an
underrepresented racial/ethnic group (25%). Three characters were adults, 1 was a teen, and four
were girls in late elementary school.
Contraception
A total of 7 movies included any reference to or depiction of contraception. The 7 films featured 8
characters portrayed with contraceptive mentions.
This represents less than 1% (0.2%) of all speaking characters evaluated (n=5,081).
Three of the contraceptive portrayals were related to past use by men. Two portrayals related to
contraception were hypothetical situations that involved young people (Bottoms, Radical). The
final depiction involved two characters in No Hard Feelings preparing to engage in sexual activity
and unwrapping a condom.
Most characters (n=6) associated with contraception were male-identified, and only 2 were female-
identified. Five of the 8 portrayals featured White characters, while 3 were underrepresented (1
Black/African American character, 1 Hispanic/Latino character, 1 Asian character). Only 1
character who discussed contraceptive use was LGBTQ+. The age of characters discussing
contraceptive use varied. One was a child in late elementary school, 2 were teens, 3 were adults
(21-39), 1 was middle-aged (40-64) and 1 was 65+.
Abortion
Four films included any mention of abortion, and involved four speaking or named characters, less
than 1% (0.3%) of all girls/women (n=1,543) appearing across the 100 top films of 2023.
There were two depictions of abortion that did not involve actual termination of a pregnancy but
consisted of verbal references. One was a philosophical discussion the other was a joke. Third, one
3
character recounts being directed to have an abortion by the father of the child while in graduate
school.
The final portrayal occurs in the film Exorcist: Believer. Ann, a supporting character, became
pregnant while studying to become a nun and ended her pregnancy. Her abortion is revealed to the
audience by a demon who refers to the procedure as “scraped out, she was, like a rotten pumpkin,
your baby.”
These 4 portrayals amounted to less than 4 minutes of screen time across nearly 200 hours of run
time for these 100 movies.
Infertility
Two characters in two films experienced infertility, which is less than 1% (0.2%) of all adult women.
In both historically-set films, infidelity accompanies the infertility experienced by these women.
General Reproductive Health
Five films dealt with overall reproductive health issues. Across these 6 portrayals, 9 characters were
involved, which translates to less than 1% (0.2%) of all speaking/named characters (n=5,081).
The portrayals included three primary areas: overall reproductive health, learning about
reproductive systems, and discussions or depictions of genital mutilation.
4
The Prevalence & Context of Reproductive Health Portrayals Across 100 Popular Films
Dr. Stacy L. Smith & Dr. Katherine Pieper
USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative
October 2024
Reproductive rights are a key election issue for young people. Roughly 40% of women under 30
reported that abortion is the most important issue in the election.1 Ten states will have ballot
measures related to reproductive freedoms this November.2 This follows elections across the U.S.
in 2022 and 2023 where abortion access and rights were critical issues at the state level. 3
For young women—and for people across generations—reproductive freedoms remain a vital issue,
and one that people want to understand more deeply. News media is one vehicle to inform and
educate people on the topic, but entertainment programming can oer insight as well. In fact,
storytelling can serve as a “super peer,” often providing heavier weight to the information that is
conveyed. However, there can be a disconnect between what people want to know about
reproductive issues and what is shown in the media.
The reason for this divergence can be easily understood. Fundamentally, the majority of people
who tell stories are men—similar to the men regulating access to women’s reproductive freedom at
the local, state, and national level. Across the 1,700 most popular films of the last 17 years, 93.5%
of directors, 87% of writers, and 77.9% of producers were men. In other words, many of the
narratives brought to the biggest screens in the U.S. and around the world are told from the
perspective of a single gender.
The purpose of this research brief is to examine Hollywood’s contributions on one of the most
important issues in the 2024 U.S. Presidential race. To do so, we assessed the 100 top-grossing
films of 2023 for portrayals that were specifically focused on an individual’s right to reproductive
choice. These portrayals included all mentions or depictions of actions related to health and
reproduction that appeared in movies. This spanned infertility, contraception, pregnancy, abortion,
miscarriage, birth, and post-partum issues for people of all genders. Beyond this general measure,
we were specifically interested in issues of pregnancy (including pregnancy prevention), infertility,
miscarriage, and abortion.
Findings
Prevalence
How frequently does film show reproductive depictions on screen? Across the 100 top-grossing
films of 2023, 42% (n=42) of movies showcased one or more reproductive portrayals while 58%
(n=58) did not. Most films (n=25) featured only one portrayal related to reproductive health. Six
films included 2 portrayals, 4 films featured 3 portrayals, 6 films depicted 4 portrayals, and 1 film
showed 11 portrayals.
As shown in Table 1, reproductive portrayals were most likely to be observed in dramas (66.7%) and
comedies (50%). Roughly one-third of action (34.4%) and animated (33.3%) films featured a
reproductive portrayal. Depictions of reproductive health were least likely to be seen in horror films
(21.4%).
5
Table 1
Reproductive Portrayals by Genre
Measure Action Animation Comedy Drama Horror To tal
No Repro Portrayal
65.6%
(n=21)
66.7%
(n=8)
50%
(n=12)
33.3%
(n=6)
78.6%
(n=11)
58%
(n=58)
Repro Portrayal
34.4%
(n=11)
33.3%
(n=4)
50%
(n=12)
66.7%
(n=12)
21.4%
(n=3)
42%
(n=42)
Total
32
12
24
18
14
100
MPAA rating played a role in whether a film included a reproductive portrayal (see Table 2). The
majority of unrated films (75%) featured a reproductive portrayal. Among films with an MPAA rating,
57.9% of R-rated films, 31.1% of PG-13-rated movies, and 23.1% of PG-rated fare included any
reproductive portrayals.
Table 2
Reproductive Portrayals by MPAA Rating
Measure PG PG-13 R NR Total
No Repro Portrayal
76.9%
(n=10)
68.9%
(n=31)
42.1%
(n=16)
25%
(n=1)
58%
(n=58)
Repro Portrayal
23.1%
(n=3)
31.1%
(n=14)
57.9%
(n=22)
75%
(n=3)
42%
(n=42)
Total
13
45
38
4
100
Note: No films were rated G for General Audience across the 100 top grossing fictional movies of 2023.
The 42 movies with reproductive health depictions featured 81 distinct portrayals. These ranged
from overt representation of reproductive health issues to vague or implicit references to the topic.
Of the 81 portrayals, the majority (65.4%) were focused on pregnancy (see Table 3). Menstruation
was the focus of 9.9% of depictions, 8.6% centered on contraception, and 7.4% dealt with general
reproductive health. Few portrayals dealt with abortion (4.9%), infertility (2.5%) or miscarriage
(1.2%). In the next section, we focus on the presentation of each type of reproductive health issue.
Table 3
Types of Reproductive Portrayals Shown in Film
Measure
% of Portrayals
Number of Films
Pregnancy
65.4% (n=53)
36
Menstruation
9.9% (n=8)
3
Contraception
8.6% (n=7)
7
General Reproductive Health
7.4% (n=6)
5
6
Abortion
4.9% (n=4)
4
Infertility
2.5% (n=2)
2
Miscarriage
1.2% (n=1)
1
Total
100% (n=81)
42
Pregnancy. A total of 36 movies featured one or more portrayals of pregnancy. Pregnancy occurred
when one of the following types of depictions occurred on screen: 1) a character was visibly
pregnant, 2) a character talked about a current or previous pregnancy and/or 3) birth was shown.
There were 53 portrayals related to pregnancy that occurred across these 36 films. Two individuals
who experienced pregnancy were not shown on screen (Air) or did not speak (Jawan), leaving a total
of 51 speaking or named pregnant characters. These 51 speaking characters represent 3.3% of all
adolescent or adult women (n=1,543) shown on screen across the top-grossing films of 2023. This
percentage is in stark contrast to the 56.7% of 15-49 year old U.S. females who have had at least
one child.4
Table 4
Race/Ethnicity of Pregnant Characters in Popular Film
Race/Ethnicity
% of Pregnant
Characters
# of Pregnant
Characters
% of White
39.2%
20
% of Black
19.6%
10
% of Hispanic/Latino
5.9%
3
% of Asian
19.6%
10
% of MENA
7.8%
4
% of American Indian/AN
3.9%
2
% of Multiracial
2%
1
% of Can’t Tell
2%
1
Total
100%
51
What are the attributes of the 51 female speaking characters who experienced pregnancy? In terms
of race/ethnicity, 39.2% (n=20) were White, while 19.6% were Black (n=10) and 19.6% were Asian
(n=10). Few pregnant women were shown from other races or ethnicities, as shown in Table 4.
These data reflect a departure from our previous work. Women of color are typically least likely to
be seen on screen—and in the majority of cases are even invisible. Yet, when it comes to portrayals
of pregnancy, they are most likely to be depicted experiencing or referencing pregnancy. This
overrepresentation of women of color as pregnant evokes outdated stereotypes about
underrepresented females and suggests that content creators not only maintain those views but
continue to perpetuate them in film.
In terms of age, most pregnancy depictions occurred for characters between 21 and 39 years of age
(80.4%, n=41), with a few (5.9%, n=3) shown in middle age (40-64 years of age). There were 5 (9.8%)
teen pregnancies shown or referenced in the films examined (Napoleon, The Color Purple, The
Blind, Joy Ride). Two characters 65 years of age or older referred to a past pregnancy, but did not
disclose the age at which they conceived (Ann, Exorcist: Believer; Diane, Book Club: The Next
Chapter). Three of the pregnant characters were LGBTQ+-identified.
7
Four of the characters who experienced pregnancy were in a leading role (e.g., Beth, Evil Dead
Rises; Celie, The Color Purple; Bella Baxter, Poor Things; Priscilla Presley, Priscilla) and 1 character
who referenced a past pregnancy was a leading actor in an ensemble (Diane, Book Club: The Next
Chapter).
Nearly two-thirds (60.8%, n=31) of the characters who experienced pregnancy were in a supporting
role, and 27.5% (n=14) were inconsequential to the plot. Most characters who experienced
pregnancy were in a committed relationship (80.4%, n=41), while 13.7% were not. The relational
status of 3 characters was unknown.
In addition to the attributes of characters, we were interested in the time frame in which the story
occurred. Slightly less than half (45.1%, n=23) of the pregnancy portrayals occurred in the past,
defined as prior to the year 2000. This included films set in ancient times (His Only Son), in the 19th
Century (Napoleon, Poor Things), the early to mid-20th Century (Titanic, Killers of the Flower Moon,
The Color Purple, Oppenheimer, The Boy and the Heron, Ferrari), and the late 20th Century (Priscilla,
The Iron Claw, The Holdovers). 45.1% (n=23) of characters who experienced pregnancy did so in
contemporary settings while 9.8% (n=5) were in fantastical (Elemental, Ruby Gillman Teenage
Kraken, Aquaman & The Last Kingdom, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) or futuristic
(The Creator) settings.
Table 5
Violence facing Pregnant Characters in Popular Film
Character
Name Film Title Event
Outcome
for Mother
Outcome
for Pregnancy
Anna Killers of the Flower
Moon Murdered Dies Ends
Beth Evil Dead Rise Demon Attack Lives
Remains
pregnant
Sorenne
Fielding Exorcist: Believer Earthquake Dies Baby delivered
Natsuko
The Boy and The
Heron
Trapped in Supernatural
Wind Tunnel Lives Baby delivered
Maya The Creator Explosion Lives Ends
Amanda
Collins Thanksgiving Car Accident Dies Ends
Victoria/Bella
Baxter Poor Things Attempted Suicide Lives
Baby delivered
& killed
“Jim’s Wife” Pathaan Murdered Dies Ends
Not all pregnancies proceeded smoothly on screen. As shown in Table 5, 8 pregnant women faced
violence, natural disasters, accidents, and suicide that threatened their lives and pregnancies.5 Five
of these women died while pregnant and three survived. Violence and accidents ended the
pregnancies of four women, and in one case a child was delivered and killed. Violence was also the
8
cause of the only miscarriage (The Creator) that occurred across the 100 most popular films of
2023.
Pregnancy is clearly the most significant reproductive health issue that screenwriters and other
storytellers can think of. However, the incidence of pregnancy in top films still underrepresents the
number of real-world pregnancies experienced by women in the U.S. Pregnancy in film typically
occurs in the context of a committed relationship between adults, and frequently in historical
settings. Most notably, most characters who experienced pregnancy were in supporting roles.
Several women experienced violence while pregnant and the majority of pregnancies ended as a
result. Taken together, the way that film presents pregnancy seems to minimize or sideline not only
a significant aspect of people’s lives, but a critical health event.
Menstruation. Three of the most popular films in 2023 featured 8 portrayals of menstruation. These
8 characters represent less than one percent (0.5%) of all girls and women (n=1,543) across the
movies studied. Depictions of menstruation included showing or implying menstrual emissions,
products associated with menstruation, and discussion of the topic.
The majority of menstruation portrayals (n=6 of 8) occurred in just one film: Are You There God? It’s
Me, Margaret. As such, these depictions dealt primarily with the onset of menstruation for 4 young
characters in the movie and associated informational presentations or discussion of a first period
(n=2). The two other characters who discussed menstruation did so in the context of trying to
determine if pregnancy occurred (His Only Son) or before engaging in sexual activity (Saltburn).
Six of the eight characters who were portrayed in relation to menstruation were White (75%) and 2
characters (1 Black/African American, 1 Middle Eastern/North African) were from an
underrepresented racial/ethnic group (25%). Three characters were adults, 1 was a teen, and four
were girls in late elementary school.
Contraception. A total of 7 movies included any reference to or depiction of contraception. Most
portrayals were general or vague references to pregnancy or STI prevention.
The 7 films featured 8 characters portrayed with contraceptive mentions. This represents less than
1% (0.2%) of all speaking characters evaluated (n=5,081). Three of the contraceptive portrayals
were related to past use by men (Killers of the Flower Moon, Animal, The Machine). One man
(Ernest Burkhart, Killers of the Flower Moon) faced questions about using contraception for disease
prevention while serving in World War I (e.g., “you didn’t pick up any diseases over there…keep that
thing wrapped up over there?”) or when engaging in sexual activity with women outside of a
committed relationship (e.g., Animal) or in other countries (e.g., The Machine).
Two portrayals related to contraception were hypothetical situations that involved young people
(Bottoms, Radical). In Bottoms, Josie expresses concern over becoming pregnant because of
unprotected sex. In Radical, a student indicates that condom use is a solution to unwanted
pregnancy during a class discussion. The third reference was a dismissive response by J. Robert
Oppenheimer that “birth control is out of my jurisdiction” when he was asked about the increase in
births while scientists and their families were living in Los Alamos (Oppenheimer).
The final depiction involved two characters in No Hard Feelings preparing to engage in sexual
activity and unwrapping a condom. One of these characters was an adult woman, who was the lead
9
in the film, and the other was a teenage boy. This was the only depiction that included a visual
representation of contraception (e.g., condoms) and occurred in conjunction with potential sexual
activity.
From a demographic perspective, portrayals of contraceptive use deviated in some ways from other
portrayals. Unlike the categories above, most characters (n=6) associated with contraception were
male-identified, and only 2 were female-identified. Five of the 8 portrayals featured White
characters, while 3 were underrepresented (1 Black/African American character, 1 Hispanic/Latino
character, 1 Asian character). Only 1 character who discussed contraceptive use was LGBTQ+
(Josie, Bottoms). The age of characters discussing contraceptive use varied. One was a child in late
elementary school, 2 were teens, 3 were adults (21-39), 1 was middle-aged (40-64) and 1 was 65+.
Notably, most (n=5 of 8) characters shown in contraception portrayals were in leading or co-leading
roles, while 2 were supporting characters and 1 was inconsequential.
General Reproductive Health. Five films dealt with overall reproductive health issues. Across
these 6 portrayals, 9 characters were involved, which translates to less than 1% (0.2%) of all
speaking/named characters (n=5,081).
The portrayals included three primary areas. The first was overall reproductive health. One
character visited a healthcare professional (Barbie, Barbie). The second was alone in a roomful of
male scientists where she was the subject of discussion and concern regarding the eects of
radiation on her reproductive health (Lili Hornig, Oppenheimer).
The second category of portrayals involved learning about reproductive systems. This occurred
when four late-elementary-aged girls in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret examined an anatomy
book to learn about male reproductive organs and processes. This depiction included the only
underrepresented character in the category.
Finally, three characters were implicated in discussions or depictions of genital mutilation,
including the only 2 men in this category. In Poor Things, Victoria’s estranged husband discusses
wanting to perform genital mutilation on her to reduce sexual pleasure and so she will bear his
child. Additionally, Dr. Godwin Baxter recounts genital mutilation performed on him under the guise
of “experiments” that permanently damaged his reproductive capacity. Finally in Strays, dogs
attack and harm Doug as punishment for his actions against one of the dogs.
Abortion. Four films included any mention of abortion, and involved four speaking or named
characters, less than 1% (0.3%) of all girls/women (n=1,543) appearing across the 100 top films of
2023. According to one survey, based on the rate of abortions in 2020, roughly a quarter of U.S.
women will have an abortion during their reproductive years.6
There were 3 depictions of abortion that did not involve actual termination of a pregnancy but
consisted of verbal references. In the film Radical, elementary-school-aged Lupe leads her class in
a philosophical discussion on the morality and necessity of abortion, concluding that “There are
cases where abortion might be the right thing to do.” The second involved Lisa Ellison in American
Fiction, a practicing OB/GYN at Boston Family Planning, who tells her brother Monk a joke in which
the punchline is “it’s a matter of row versus wade.” Third, one character recounts being directed to
10
have an abortion by the father of the child (Narmada, Jawan) while in graduate school. She instead
chose to remain pregnant and raise the baby.
The final portrayal occurs in the film Exorcist: Believer. Ann, a supporting character, became
pregnant while studying to become a nun and ended her pregnancy. Her abortion is revealed to the
audience by a demon who refers to the procedure as “scraped out, she was, like a rotten pumpkin,
your baby.”
These 4 portrayals amounted to less than 4 minutes of screen time out of nearly 200 hours of top-
grossing film content from 2023.
Summing up, not one film across the most popular movies of 2023 involves a contemporary
depiction of pregnancy and abortion. In fact, none of the girls and women who reference abortion in
these movies were currently pregnant.
Infertility. Two characters in two films experienced infertility, which is less than 1% (0.1%) of all
adult women (n=1,543). The first occurred in Napoleon, when Josephine Bonaparte was unable to
conceive a male child to serve as her husband, Napoleon’s, heir. This resulted in marital strife and
ultimately a divorce. The second depiction occurred in the film His Only Son and recounted the
Biblical story of Sarah who could not bear a child for Abraham. Sarah’s eventual pregnancy also
took place in the film. In both historically-set films, infidelity accompanies the infertility
experienced by these women. No present day portrayal of infertility, IVF, or surrogacy occurred
across the top 100 films of 2023.
Conclusion
The goal of this research brief was to examine how often reproductive health issues occurred
across the 100 most popular films of 2023. Below, we review the overall trends associated with
these findings.
Pregnancy is the Most Popular of Reproductive Health Portrayals
When screenwriters and other filmmakers think about reproductive health, it is clear that they think
of pregnancy. Though 3.3% of all girls/women in the sample were shown pregnant, this still
undercounts the 56.7% of 15-49 year old U.S. females who have at least one child.7 There were
other ways that pregnancy portrayals oered a disservice to audiences. Slightly less than half
occurred in the past, which means that contemporary issues in pregnancy such as conception,
health risks related to pregnancy (e.g., gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, etc.) rarely occur—
particularly miscarriage. In fact, there were 8 instances in which pregnant women faced negative
health events. Six of them occurred as a result of violence, 1 was in a car accident, and the final
woman died from injuries sustained in an earthquake. In 2022, although mental health conditions
and substance use disorders were the leading cause of maternal mortality, factors such as
hemorrhage, cardiac conditions, infection, embolism, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension were the
remaining causes of maternal death.8 Not one of these health conditions occurred for a pregnant
woman in film. These results demonstrate that pregnancy is viewed in an idealized way in popular
films rather than as a health issue that faces people in the U.S. regularly.
Contraception is Largely the Purview of Men on Screen
11
Though pregnancy is frequently shown, factors related to it are nearly absent on screen. Only 7
portrayals of contraception occurred across 100 top movies. Put dierently, mentions of
contraception were missing across 93 popular films (see Table 6). In terms of contraceptive use,
nearly every portrayal involved men in some way. Contraceptives linked to women’s agency to
prevent pregnancy or STIs were largely missing on screen—there was no specific mention of oral
contraceptives, IUDs, or surgical procedures. Thus, even though films often deal with romantic
relationships and despite the occurrence of pregnancy, little is said regarding preventing pregnancy
in top films.
Table 6
Films Missing Reproductive Portrayals by Type
Measure
Number of Films
Pregnancy
64
Menstruation
97
Contraception
93
General Reproductive Health
95
Abortion
96
Infertility
98
Miscarriage
99
Total
58
Abortion is Absent in Popular Film
The sole mention of a terminated pregnancy across the 100 top-grossing films of 2023 used
pejorative language and depicted abortion as a secret from a woman’s past. Abortion as a medical
procedure, medications used for abortion care, or how to access abortion care were all absent.
Even simple mentions of Plan B, dilation and curettage, or counseling around abortion were missing
from film. Instead, movies were more likely to frame abortion as a philosophical discussion,
through jokes, or as events that did not occur. In other words, movies are nearly silent on one of the
most important topics of public interest—96 films included no mention of abortion at all (see Table
6).
One solution to the lack of portrayals of reproductive health—particularly women’s reproductive
health care—is to consider who works behind the camera. Half (n=7 of 14) of the films with a
woman director included at least one reproductive portrayal, compared to 40.7% (n=35 of 86) with
men in the directing role. Directors such as Emerald Fennell, Kelly Fremon Craig, Sofia Coppola,
Greta Gerwig and others all included reproductive health portrayals in their films. Having a woman
in this key position is one way to increase not only the number but the accuracy, sensitivity, and
nuance surrounding these topics.
This research brief serves to inform content creators of the ways storytelling has failed to capitalize
on the urgency of the moment when it comes to reproductive rights—an issue that many in
Hollywood purport to value and support. Yet, the results point to the ways that movies continue to
12
sideline and minimize issues related to reproductive health, particularly those of greatest
importance and interest to voters. Hollywood’s silence on a topic that will face much of the U.S.
population both in their healthcare decisions and on their ballots belies its true values. As the
future of reproductive rights remains under contention, so-called “liberal Hollywood” has largely
abandoned any chance to influence viewers and voters with accurate, multi-dimensional, and
informative portrayals about the realities of reproductive healthcare. Sadly, content creators and
executives are the least likely to pay the price for this abdication of opportunity and women across
the U.S. will face restrictions in their access and level of reproductive health care for decades to
come.
13
Footnotes
1. Wayne, A. & Adams, R. (2024, October 13). KFF poll: Abortion is now the top election issue
for young women, among shifts that favor Harris. PBS.org. Retrieved October 18, 2024 from
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/k-poll-abortion-is-now-the-top-election-issue-
for-young-women-among-shifts-that-favor-harris.
2. Kaiser Family Foundation (2024, August 23). Ballot Tracker: Status of Abortion-Related State
Constitutional Amendment Measures for the 2024 Election. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Retrieved October 18, 2024 from https://www.k.org/womens-health-
policy/dashboard/ballot-tracker-status-of-abortion-related-state-constitutional-
amendment-measures/.
3. Durkee, A. (2023, November 8). Abortion Rights Victories Continue: Here Are All The Wins In
Major Elections Since The Supreme Court Overturned Roe. Forbes. Retrieved October 18,
2024 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/11/08/abortion-rights-
victories-continue-here-are-all-the-wins-in-major-elections-since-the-supreme-court-
overturned-roe/.
4. Martinez, G.M. & Daniels, K. (2023, January 10) Fertility of Men and Women Aged 15-49 in
the United States: National Survey of Family Growth, 2015-2019. National Health Statistics
Reports No. 179. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr179.pdf.
5. In "Poor Things," the character Victoria dies from suicide. Dr. Godwin Baxter uses the brain
of her unborn child to revive her. She is reborn/reanimated as Bella Baxter. This
unconventional procedure grants her a second chance at life. This could be counted as two
instances of pregnancy given the rebirth of Victoria as Bella. However, we chose to count
this as a single instance of pregnancy in one body though “inhabited” by two characters.
6. Guttmacher Institute (2024, April 17). One in Four US Women Expected to Have an Abortion
in Their Lifetime. Retrieved from https://www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2024/one-four-
us-women-expected-have-abortion-their-lifetime.
7. Martinez & Daniels (2023, January 10).
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 19). Four in 5 pregnancy-
related deaths in the U.S. are preventable. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0919-pregnancy-related-
deaths.html#:~:text=The%20leading%20underlying%20causes%20of,for%20non-
Hispanic%20Asian%20people.
