The Abortion Episode

Does seeing abortion on TV and film change the way people feel about it? You could argue that another big social issue — gay marriage — was helped by shows like Will & Grace and Ellen. Or that The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Murphy Brown helped normalize the idea of women in the workplace. Ahead of the midterms, Sam is wondering why more depictions of abortion onscreen haven't moved the needle on public opinion or access to abortion itself. Sam chats with Katori Hall about writing an abortion episode for her show P-Valley, which was based on the women's health organization at the heart of the case that overturned Roe v. Wade. Then, he talks with social scientist Steph Herold about the things onscreen abortions get wrong and the limits of representation. Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices