Steph Herold
@stephherold.bsky.social
Researcher studying abortion on TV & film. Studying Jewish texts, autism, motherhood whenever I can. Indiscriminate dog lover. She/ her. All views are mine.
Totally. Patriarchy at work. Thank you for your support & enthusiasm <3
October 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Totally. Patriarchy at work. Thank you for your support & enthusiasm <3
Quite a contrast to Hollywood's liberal reputation. Anyway, if you want to read more, our paper is open access and has a lot more (shocking! fascinating!) detail:
academic.oup.com/ccc/article/...
academic.oup.com/ccc/article/...
October 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Quite a contrast to Hollywood's liberal reputation. Anyway, if you want to read more, our paper is open access and has a lot more (shocking! fascinating!) detail:
academic.oup.com/ccc/article/...
academic.oup.com/ccc/article/...
Others told us that network execs would tell them that they love the idea of the project, but for some reason, just couldn't do it:
“The response I’ve gotten has been, ‘Wow, we love this so much....We love the tone, we love these characters (…) We just can never make a show about abortion.’”
“The response I’ve gotten has been, ‘Wow, we love this so much....We love the tone, we love these characters (…) We just can never make a show about abortion.’”
October 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Others told us that network execs would tell them that they love the idea of the project, but for some reason, just couldn't do it:
“The response I’ve gotten has been, ‘Wow, we love this so much....We love the tone, we love these characters (…) We just can never make a show about abortion.’”
“The response I’ve gotten has been, ‘Wow, we love this so much....We love the tone, we love these characters (…) We just can never make a show about abortion.’”
18 participants described gatekeeping practices at TV networks related to receiving approval for an abortion storyline -- they were repeatedly questioned about the necessity of abortion to the plot and if the abortion plotline might negatively affect the network’s business.
October 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
18 participants described gatekeeping practices at TV networks related to receiving approval for an abortion storyline -- they were repeatedly questioned about the necessity of abortion to the plot and if the abortion plotline might negatively affect the network’s business.
As Shonda mentioned, the pushback wasn't just from other writers, but from execs:
"You have bosses telling you, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. Like we’re getting political here...and then it seems like we’re taking a stance and we have to...appeal to the most number of people possible." (Writer, comedy)
"You have bosses telling you, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. Like we’re getting political here...and then it seems like we’re taking a stance and we have to...appeal to the most number of people possible." (Writer, comedy)
October 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
As Shonda mentioned, the pushback wasn't just from other writers, but from execs:
"You have bosses telling you, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. Like we’re getting political here...and then it seems like we’re taking a stance and we have to...appeal to the most number of people possible." (Writer, comedy)
"You have bosses telling you, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. Like we’re getting political here...and then it seems like we’re taking a stance and we have to...appeal to the most number of people possible." (Writer, comedy)
I thought this was a really succinct way to summarize the dillemas tv writers face in writing these stories:
“The challenge (…) is how do you tell a story that normalizes [abortion] and treats it like no big deal while also telling a compelling dramatic story?” (Writer, drama series)
“The challenge (…) is how do you tell a story that normalizes [abortion] and treats it like no big deal while also telling a compelling dramatic story?” (Writer, drama series)
October 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I thought this was a really succinct way to summarize the dillemas tv writers face in writing these stories:
“The challenge (…) is how do you tell a story that normalizes [abortion] and treats it like no big deal while also telling a compelling dramatic story?” (Writer, drama series)
“The challenge (…) is how do you tell a story that normalizes [abortion] and treats it like no big deal while also telling a compelling dramatic story?” (Writer, drama series)
Others shared that they had to explain why the *way* they depicted abortion was important:
“The women [writers] wanted to show a non-dramatic experience because we felt like either ourselves or women that we knew have had this experience…men were wanting to see the drama.” (Writer, drama series)
“The women [writers] wanted to show a non-dramatic experience because we felt like either ourselves or women that we knew have had this experience…men were wanting to see the drama.” (Writer, drama series)
October 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Others shared that they had to explain why the *way* they depicted abortion was important:
“The women [writers] wanted to show a non-dramatic experience because we felt like either ourselves or women that we knew have had this experience…men were wanting to see the drama.” (Writer, drama series)
“The women [writers] wanted to show a non-dramatic experience because we felt like either ourselves or women that we knew have had this experience…men were wanting to see the drama.” (Writer, drama series)
Some writers told us that they had to explain why it's important to show abortion at all:
"What I hear from [some] male writers, like, ‘I can tell the best story.’ They just push back against anything even resembling responsibility.” (Executive producer, drama series)
"What I hear from [some] male writers, like, ‘I can tell the best story.’ They just push back against anything even resembling responsibility.” (Executive producer, drama series)
October 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Some writers told us that they had to explain why it's important to show abortion at all:
"What I hear from [some] male writers, like, ‘I can tell the best story.’ They just push back against anything even resembling responsibility.” (Executive producer, drama series)
"What I hear from [some] male writers, like, ‘I can tell the best story.’ They just push back against anything even resembling responsibility.” (Executive producer, drama series)
Love it! Here’s our very modest NYC backyard sukkah #zmansimchateinu
October 6, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Love it! Here’s our very modest NYC backyard sukkah #zmansimchateinu