#20 - Accidents Will Still Happen: On Abortion Access in a Post-Roe World featuring ‘Degrassi’ and ‘Sex Education’

Leftist Teen Drama

Two non-American teen dramas dare to go where most American teen dramas refuse to: letting their teen characters choose to have abortions with no guilt or regret afterwards. In this episode of Leftist Teen Drama, Maria and guests Rosalie Murray and Kelly Gilbert analyze and compare the depiction of abortion care on DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION (2001-2015) through the eyes of Manny Santos and SEX EDUCATION (2019-2023) from the perspective of Maeve Wiley. We position our conversation about these two episodes in the post-Roe v. Wade world we all now live in as Americans, emphasizing how important the right to abortion access for all and the right to parent with dignity really are.

For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION 3x14 and 3x15 “Accidents Will Happen” and SEX EDUCATION 1x03 “Episode 3,” streaming on HBO Max and Netflix.

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ABOUT US:

MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, and writing and reading fanfiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.

KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience!

ROSALIE MURRAY (she/her; recurring guest) is an elementary school social worker/human living in Queens, NY. Besides spending time with her cat, Louise, she loves to cook tasty ass vegan food with friends, karaoke-ing or starting another unfinished crochet project. She also loves to watch endless youtube videos, reality television and, of course, Degrassi.

CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l.

JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV.

Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.

intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats

All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.

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SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• CBC article from 2004: 'Degrassi' abortion episode sparks fan outcry in U.S.
• The case for stripping the Supreme Court of its power, Vox, Sean Illing, Oct 27, 2020
• The Case For Court Packing As A Way To Promote Democracy from NPR’s All Things Considered, September 5, 2021
• Accidents Still Happen: Revisiting “Degrassi’s” Infamous Abortion Episode by Marina Watanabe for Bitch Media, June 11, 2021
• The Supreme Court Is an Antidemocratic Monstrosity. We Should Break Its Power. by Ben Burgis in Jacobin, February 1, 2022
• A Socialist Response to the End of Roe: Don’t Mourn—Organize for Reproductive Justice by Diana Moreno for In These Times, July 1, 2022
• Clinics in Anti-Abortion States Struggle to Stay Open by Garnet Henderson for Rewire News Group, September 9, 2022
• Report Details Alarming Rise in Violence Against Abortion Providers by Jessica Mason Pieklo for Rewire News Group, May 11, 2023
• Young People Like Me Are Wondering: What Is the Path Forward for Abortion Rights? By Kaelea Lucas for Rewire News Group, June 12, 2023
• Abortion Funds Are Hanging On By A Thread A Year After Dobbs by Sara Boboltz and Alanna Vagianos for Huffington Post, June 24, 2023

RESOURCES/PLACES TO PLUG INTO ORGANIZING:

• Plan C Pills
• Need an abortion and don’t know where to start? Click here.
• Plug in to organizing: Operation Save Abortion
• Plug in to organizing: NYC For Abortion Rights
• Interested in becoming a clinic escort? We recommend looking up your local Planned Parenthood chapter for their volunteer options.