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Original poster

The Abortion Episode.

36 replies

Miffer · 19/09/2016 08:01

That's how it's known isn't it? The episode of the show that deals with abortion. I watched the best example of this I have seen last night and tt made me think of other episodes. The terrible Sex and the City episode, the 'groundbreaking' Grey's Anatomy example, the tired trope of booking the abortion only for the 'heartwarming' reveal that she changed her mind.

The one I watched last night was Bojack Horseman. There was so much awesome in the episode I don't know where to start. Luckily somebody did it for me remembertae.tumblr.com/post/150006664725/bojack-horseman-brrap-brrap-pew-pew

I think my favourite thing about this was the fact that the story wasn't about the characters abortion. Indeed there was no story there. She wanted one, her husband supported her, she had it, she didn't regret it. There was no big exploration of why she wanted one, no weighing up the pros and cons, no doubt, no sad husband bemoaning the death of his 'baby;. It was simply her choice and this was how it was presented to us.

So what says you feminist MNers? What are your favourite examples of this? Or do you think there are none? Is the concept of "The Abortion Episode" problematic?

OP posts:
pepperpot99 · 19/09/2016 09:52

I think your 'claim' that 'the vast majority' of women have no qualms about abortion is pretty hyperbolic Xenophile I'd like to see your evidence - which in your 9.19.43 post you refer to.

I know several individuals who had abortions and felt really badly affected by it. Please don't dismiss them as people who don't count simply because they don't fit neatly into your world.

Xenophile · 19/09/2016 09:47

Pepperpot, I'm not trying to be 'clever or enlightened', merely factual.

I'm also not saying that it's never a painful choice, I am saying, quite factually and without your evident need for hyperbole, that for the vast majority of women, it isn't.

surferjet · 19/09/2016 09:47

I had a termination 25 years ago.
I've regretted it ever since.
I'm pro-choice but the guilt never really leaves you. Well it hasn't for me anyway.

pepperpot99 · 19/09/2016 09:42

Well good for you buckingfrolicks. My point is that it is not like that at all for many other women.

buckingfrolicks · 19/09/2016 09:34

Clever or enlightened? Pepper, I have had an abortion and I felt guilty at how unguilty I felt. For years I thought I Was a bit of a freak person because I found the decision to terminate such an easy one

pepperpot99 · 19/09/2016 09:23

Abortion might be 'mater of fact' for some people but for others it is a very painful and problematic issue. It's not clever or enlightened to pretend otherwise.

Xenophile · 19/09/2016 09:19

Abortion is just a fact of life. TV shows showing it as an agonising and awful decision are just playing into anti-choicer/forced birther tropes around how much women regret choosing abortion, despite all evidence showing the complete opposite.

MaxineRockatansky · 19/09/2016 09:00

Haven't watched Bojack but just want to recommend a film that's on Netflix called Obvious Child. Deals with abortion in a refreshingly matter of fact and unapologetic way.

VikingVolva · 19/09/2016 08:35

Episode of what show that is concerned with abortion?

The shows you do name-check are made in US, and so reflect a considerably different society.

In UK, the prime time shows which have featured pregnancy choices, including abortion, are the soaps. And I don't think it seems particularly to stand out as an 'abortion episode' but rather just another storyline. Sometimes a bit sensational, sometimes not.

ImCatbug · 19/09/2016 08:12

That episode of BoJack Horseman is great. I thought the same when I first watched it, 'oh not this trope again', but when it got to the end of the episode and she just had it done and left it at that I was pleasantly surprised.
It's refreshing to have a show be so matter-of-fact about things like that. While I do think it's problematic to use the subject of abortion as a plot device in the way it is usually used (the 'heartwarming breakthrough'), if it is going to be used then it needs to be more like that.

Original poster
Miffer · 19/09/2016 08:10

Another article on this episode I just found.

thefederalist.com/2016/08/03/bojack-horseman-shows-why-art-about-abortion-is-failing/

This one things the episode was bad and manages to highlight just how good it is by analysing all the bad in it. The main criticism being (of course) SHE DIDN'T CARE ENOUGH.

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