Planned Parenthood Applauds Netflix’s GLOW for Authentic Depiction of Abortion

New York, NY - Planned Parenthood applauds the new Netflix series GLOW, which includes an episode about one woman’s decision to have a safe, legal abortion. While the show takes place three decades ago, the storyline remains relevant today, as politicians continue to attack women’s health and chip away at access to abortion in America.

Inspired by the real-life women's professional wrestling circuit Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, GLOW is set in Los Angeles in the 1980s and stars Alison Brie as Ruth Wilder, an actor who joins the circuit. In one episode, Ruth learns that she’s pregnant and visits a Planned Parenthood health center for a safe and legal abortion. Planned Parenthood Federation of America provided guidance to the show creators during production to ensure that this episode was depicted accurately.

GLOW has already received rave reviews: The Atlantic calls it “a total delight” and Business Insider writes, “With an fantastic cast of diverse women, snappy dialogue, and important things to say, Netflix's ‘Glow’ proves that hilarious comedy can make a serious statement.” Screen Rant calls it “incredibly charming” and “a winning comedy.”

“We applaud GLOW for highlighting the need for every woman to have full, accurate information about all of her options so she can make the best decision for herself,” said Caren Spruch, director of arts and entertainment engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “With reproductive health under constant attack from politicians, it’s more important than ever for the public to see storylines about abortion that are accurate, authentic, and respectful of women’s experiences. To reduce the stigma and silencing that many women experience, we must replace misinformation with facts and support honest, authentic portrayals of the women who make this decision.”

Real, honest depictions of sexuality and health can include portrayals of different gender identities and sexual orientations, birth control, making a decision about a pregnancy, getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or disclosing your HIV status to a partner. These are all normal aspects of people’s romantic and sexual lives, and should be part of what we see on television and in film.

Today, abortion in the U.S. is a safe and legal way to end a pregnancy. Nearly a third of women in America decide to end a pregnancy at some point in their lives, and every individual’s decision about their pregnancy should be respected and valued. A large majority of Americans support access to health care at Planned Parenthood and want abortion to remain legal and safe.

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate, serving 2.4 million patients annually through its health care service providers, and an additional 1.5 million through educational programs and outreach. At Planned Parenthood, we work every day to make sure women receive the high-quality health care they need—including safe, legal abortion—in a safe and respectful environment, and that every patient can make their own medical decisions without interference from politicians.

###

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood affiliates serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.