Convenient Televised Miscarriages

Abortion is not ready for prime-time. Despite the fact that almost everything else can be talked about on television, abortion is, well, only talked about. Television characters often ponder the "right to choose," and often decide to abort. But there is always the last-minute miscarriage, or some other ironic plot twist that renders the trip to the clinic unnecessary.

So argues an article by activist Rachel Fudge for the May/June 2005 issue of Clamor Magazine, reprinted in this month's issue of Utne Reader. For Fudge, this is a problem because, in recent years, "it has become more difficult to introduce the issue of abortion on a TV show than it once was." She's right. Remember Bea Arthur's character's controversial decision to abort on Norman Lear's 1970s sitcom Maude (Okay, since I was three I don't exactly remember it, but you know what I mean)? Imagine now, however, a sympathetic leading role on a television sitcom aborting a baby, and then just moving on with the storyline. It is almost impossible to imagine.

For Fudge, this is problematic precisely because it highlights an American ambiguity about abortion rights. The "pro-choice" cause needs to see televised abortions she argues. "In the struggle to capture the hearts and minds of Americans, the reproductive-rights movement-like the rest of the progressive movement-needs to find new ways to present its cause openly and frankly." But, unfortunately in the author's mind, this just isn't happening on television:

For now, it's unlikely that TV viewers will ever see one of the Desperate Housewives unapologetically opting for a second trimester abortion when she realizes her fetus has profound genetic anomalies, or one of the lissome gals on The O.C. sporting an "I had an abortion" baby tee, proclaiming that ending her pregnancy was the best decision she ever made.

Fudge is right about television pop culture demonstrating American ambiguity at this point, which is precisely why comedian Chris Rock caused such discomfort when he publicly joked about picking up women at a "pro-choice" rally, since he knew they'd be sexually active. The question is where is this ambiguity coming from?

As Christians, I think we must find small glimmers of hope in such phenomena. The "convenient miscarriage" is a sign that there is at least some aspect of conscience still alive in American culture when it comes to the plight of the unborn. At the same time, we must recognize that consciences may be seared and calloused. We will see abortions celebrated on television in our lifetimes. But, until then, this cultural ambiguity may allow us to press our case, especially with young men and women who hold abortion out as the "final solution" for the consequences of sexual hedonism. Perhaps, just perhaps, we might be able to connect with a sensitive conscience when we ask: "So why do you think we so rarely see abortion on television?"

Comments

[Lindsay]

I stumbled over here from Open Book. This post makes me think of Degrassi: The Next Generation. It's the revamped version of a Canadian teen drama series from the 80's, featuring the children of the original stars.

In "Accidents Will Happen," Manny discovers she's pregnant by the boy who's cheating on his girlfriend with her. She eventually has an abortion. The characters have referred to the abortion since then and the character of Manny has definitely changed since the abortion.

The twist? DTNG airs in the US on Nickelodeon's sister network, The N (Noggin during the daytime). "Accidents Will Happen" has never been shown.

[Russell D. Moore]

"Degrassi" is an interesting twist here. The Canadian series has been hailed by "pro-choice" activists for its "courage" in showing what American audiences "aren't ready for": an abortion perfomed on a sympathetic character.

[Joe Long]

"....what American audiences 'aren't ready for': an abortion perfomed on a sympathetic character."

Let's hope that what American audiences still feel, at the gut level, is sympathy for the aborted character!

I was told "Six Feet Under" boldly took this notion on, acknowleding the unborn victims as characters in some life-after-death plotline...

[Tony]

Gosh, Russell, you ARE just a kid! Three years old when Maude was on TV. You must have been working on your doctorate while your voice was still cracking. I wish I'd been that smart when I was that young.

Now what Miz Fudge really wants TV to do is fudge: she no more wants a true portrayal of abortion and abortionists than I want the bogus sentimentalized propaganda that we'd be likely to get. Not much courage in an airbrush. If we REALLY saw who's getting them, why they're getting them, what stupid things they've done to land themselves in trouble, what clowns and cads they're sleeping with, what hacks perform them, and what happens to their lives afterwards, not to mention what happens on the table, and how the little ones are disposed of, we'd have a veto-proof pro-life majority in the House and Senate within one election cycle. Unless the American people are more cynical than I think they are -- which may be the case, after all.

[lisa]

What Miz Fudge needs to understand is that right is right and wrong is wrong, no matter how sympathetic or pathetic the character. It doesn't matter whether one has put themselves in this predicament or it has "just happened" to an otherwise responsible wonderful person..it's wrong. It's selfish. It's murder. I may feel sympathetic toward one who is faced with an unwanted pregnancy but no amount of compassion for her will make me see abortion as a reasonable or moral choice.

[Daniel]

A couple of things.

First: Ms. Fudge has no idea how oxymoronic (or maybe just moronic) her comment, "it's unlikely that TV viewers will ever see one ... of the lissome gals on The O.C. sporting an "I had an abortion" baby tee...", is. In one fell swoop she infantilizes these young ladies while also proclaiming that they are adult enough to kill their babies in the womb.

Second: It is rather amazing that we have not seen the stories Ms. Fudge wants since the writers on these shows overwhelmingly support abortion on demand. You will not find among the writers or producers (aka, Show Runners) on series like Desperate Housewives or The O.C. a majority of people who oppose abortion. I would be surprised if you could even find one writer who wasn't pro-abortion. One of the handful of Show Runners I can think of who is absolutely Pro-Life is Dean Batali, the Show Runner on That 70s Show, and a devoted Christian, btw.

So we maybe the lack of these stories is do to fear on the part of the writers and producers that they will lose their audience, and hence lose their jobs. Or perhaps, just perhaps, God is tapping them on the shoulder, whispering into their ears, "Hey Mr. Writer and Ms. Producer, abortion, it is not just another choice. It ends the life of the least of my children."

[Juli]

Quote: If we REALLY saw who's getting them, why they're getting them, what stupid things they've done to land themselves in trouble ...

Rhetoric like this reinforces pro-choice accusations that we on the the pro-life side reserve all our compassion for the fetus, sparing none for the mother. More seriously, imo, it buys into the assumption that an unwanted pregnancy is a private bit of trouble that needs a private solution - each man (sic) for himself, sink or swim, pay your own way or don't expect to ride.

If we expect mothers to carry their children, who will help carry them? Do we share any accountability for this world that is so inhospitable to new life and those who nurture it?

[Edward]

Thats all wrong. They Should have shown "Accidents Will Happen" because it shows that women have the "Choice". If they can show gays kissing which is overly disgusting for teen audiences then they can most definetly,in my opinion, show an episode of abortion. And the school shoooting? so what thats less seroius than abortion? I think you need to rethink this entire "Too genuine for American Audiences" act before you speek.

[Edward]

I meant that to Lindsay.