Jane the Virgin and Women’s Health
Chinelo Agwuegbo
The television series Jane the Virgin tackled difficult topics with the essence of dramatic telenovelas and the narration of our dear Mateo. The American-adapted TV series also introduced issues concerning healthcare, immigration, and intersectionality. All of these issues resonate with viewers despite the show containing numerous fictional elements and lighthearted dialogue. Reproductive healthcare is a foundation of the show – as the premise involves Jane accidentally getting inseminated during her visit to her gynecologist, propelling the next five seasons of the drama on The CW. Despite this being a pivotal moment in the series, I am not sure if the premise of artificial insemination was the best move when the target audience consists of many young teens. This could promote fear or distrust of gynecologists– something that already greatly exists as many young women are afraid to schedule appointments in fear of stigma or pain.
Despite this, Jane the Virgin undoubtedly explores the facet of womanhood – and many can relate to Jane’s character as she navigates motherhood. The producer, Jennie Snyder-Urman, speaks about how “Jane feels the most relatable to [her] because [they both] went through a pregnancy. With Jane [she] gets that period in her life, but [she] also gets to explore the next stage, which is how to retain your identity as a woman, a professional, and a mother.”
Jane the Virgin also contained its fair share of unplanned pregnancies and discussions on reproductive healthcare. Snyder-Urman notes that “[They] had dealt with reproductive rights and abortion in terms of Jane’s story twice: when she got accidentally inseminated, and when she was having testing done at the 20 weeks and had to potentially make some decisions.” Jane the Virgin showcases the complexity of reproductive healthcare and the importance of community and accessibility. Topics surrounding abortion and reproductive healthcare remain relatively taboo on mainstream television, but Jane the Virgin cements its identity in the realm of women’s health by speaking on these issues and presenting options for the women involved, curating nuanced discussions that add an aspect of realism to the otherwise fictitious television series.
Adding to this, at the end of season 2, it was revealed that Xiomara, Jane’s mom, becomes pregnant after a one night stand despite the fact that she didn’t want any more kids, and recently broke off a relationship due to that fact. Xiomara decides to get an abortion off screen, and her mother Alba finds out and isn’t happy with the decisions made. Snyder-Urman comments that the off-screen decision enhances the idea that Xiomara made the right decision for herself– it wasn’t something she debated. Not only was Xiomara’s decision the first of its kind on prime network television due to her Latina identity, but she also knew what she wanted and made the decision about herself and her own body. Snyder-Urman commented to the Hollywood reporter that “It [was] not a tortured abortion. It [was] not an abortion where she is unclear about what she wants or unclear about her choice. She’s very clear and I think most abortions are that. And I feel like that’s an important thing to reflect on TV as well.” This quote introduces a great point about the importance of choice and realism within a television series. Many women have been in Xiomara’s shoes– but many other shows would have dramatized the choice she made instead of writing a script that focuses on a realistic conversation surrounding abortion. Despite the unrealistic elements Jane the Virgin portrayed throughout its run on the CW, it facilitated conversations on women’s health and well-being–conversations many dramedies unsuccessfully speak on.
Jane the Virgin revolutionized the way women’s, especially women of color’s, reproductive healthcare is talked about in mainstream television. Even with its big platform, it did not shy away from difficult and nuanced discussions on breast cancer, abortion, or women’s health. Finally, Snyder-Urman speaks on how “Abortion is an important thing to be talking about, to normalize, to not stigmatize, and to [not] dramatize.” This sentiment is important in understanding the lives of women and the importance of having a choice.
Sources
Bradley, L. (2016, October 25). How Jane the Virgin crafted the perfect abortion story line. Vanity Fair. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/10/jane-the-virgin-abortion-interview-jennie-snyder-urman
Rinkunas, S. (2016, October 25). In praise of how Jane the Virgin discussed abortion last night. The Cut. https://www.thecut.com/2016/10/there-was-an-abortion-on-season-3-of-jane-the-virgin.html
Andreeva, N. (2015, May 29). Deadline. Deadline. https://deadline.com/2015/05/jane-the-virgin-jennie-snyder-urman-interview-1201431968/