From Dirty Dancing to GLOW: How abortion on screen has changed

Degrassi High still, image via PBS

Degrassi High (1989)

When Degrassi High premiered in 1989, the first storyline it tackled was abortion. In the two-part season premiere, 16 year-old Erica gets pregnant and decides to abort. She has sex with Jason, fearfully takes an at-home pregnancy test, and lies to her twin sister Heather about the results… at first. Eventually, she gets a test at the clinic and comes clean to her sister, then reveals that she has an appointment for an abortion at the end of the week.

Heather’s reaction is simple: “But you can’t.” Erica says she has no choice because she cannot take care of a baby, and Heather tells her to put it up for adoption. Their conversation succinctly presents the three options available to Erica, who insists that if she lets the baby be born, it will be her responsibility. She will not even consider adoption. Either she terminates the pregnancy or carries it to term, and she does not want to do the latter.

Heather’s next argument is that Jason has a say, too, to which Erica vehemently says, “Jason has nothing to do with it.” Frankly, the response is warranted. Erica would be the person carrying the baby to term, and likely the one taking on the brunt of its care. This decision is hers to make, especially since she and Jason are not together. And her insistence that Heather not tell their parents is also warranted.

Eventually, after a moral crisis, Heather accompanies Erica to the clinic. Protestors stand outside declaring, “Abortion is murder! Choose life! Help the helpless!” Later, after she has had the procedure, she sits silent in a class where the students are having a heated debate about the morality of abortion.