Call for Papers
Coming of Age, Coming Undone: Abortion, Adolescence, Teen Pregnancy, and Reproductive Justice in Global Popular Culture

Audience: Media Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, Youth Studies, Reproductive Justice, Popular Culture, Girlhood Studies, Global Health, Queer Studies

Look up “teen” and “abortion” in the index of most scholarly books on the post-Roe landscape in the United States and you’re likely to find only fleeting references—if any at all. This absence is striking, especially given how disproportionately difficult it is for young people—especially those who are poor, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or living in restrictive regions—to access reproductive care. Even prior to the fall of Roe v. Wade, parental notification laws, judicial bypasses, and the prohibitive cost of abortion care created daunting obstacles. Since Dobbs, access in the U.S. has become even more restricted, and for minors in particular, nearly impossible in parts of the country.

Globally, young people face a similarly complex and unequal terrain. While some countries are expanding access and centering reproductive rights, others are moving swiftly to criminalize abortion or further restrict it. The stigma surrounding adolescent sexuality, teen pregnancy, and reproductive autonomy transcends borders, often fueled by cultural taboos, moral panics, and political posturing. In many national contexts, abortion access for young people—especially minors—is contingent on class, geography, gender identity, and access to accurate information and healthcare infrastructure.

Despite this, popular culture consistently foregrounds the issue. Films, streaming series, YA novels, comics, TikToks, podcasts, and music have offered nuanced, bold, and globally diverse representations of teens navigating abortion. In many international contexts, these narratives push beyond stigma, positioning youth not only as subjects of reproductive oppression but also as powerful agents of choice, resistance, and transformation.

This edited volume seeks to examine how abortion and adolescent reproductive justice are represented in popular culture globally, with a focus on young people’s experiences. We invite scholars, critics, activists, and media practitioners from around the world to contribute essays exploring how abortion and reproductive decision-making are depicted in youth-centered popular culture.

We welcome work that engages with diverse media forms, linguistic traditions, and regional contexts, especially outside the United States.

Guiding questions include (but are not limited to):

How do global popular culture texts represent young people’s reproductive decision-making and abortion access?

How can popular culture help destigmatize abortion and adolescent sexual agency across different sociopolitical contexts?

What cultural myths and legal structures shape the representation of teen abortion in different regions?

How do media narratives address the racial, classed, and colonial dimensions of reproductive control over young people?

In what ways do stories in global popular culture correct misinformation about abortion, contraception, or sexuality?

Are we seeing a shift away from tragic or moralistic portrayals of teen abortion and teen pregnancy in global media?

How do stories about male or nonbinary partners function within youth abortion narratives?

What does the representation of abortion in international media tell us about global trends in youth rights, sex education, or reproductive justice?

Submission Guidelines:
Please submit a proposal (300–500 words) and a brief author bio (100–150 words) by October 30th to:
 Brenda Boudreau: bboudreaustl@gmail.com
Shara Crookston: sharalcrookston@gmail.com

Final essays should be 8,000–10,000 words and will be due April 30th. Proposals should clearly state the theoretical framework, media focus, and global context of the essay.

About the Editors

Brenda Boudreau is Professor and James M. Hammil Chair of English at McKendree University. Her work centers on reproductive justice, media representation, and gender. She is the author of Abortion and Popular Culture: A Call to Action (Lexington, 2023) and Abortion in International Popular Culture: The Decision Heard Round the World (Lexington, 2025). She currently serves as President of the Popular Culture Association.

Shara Crookston is Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Toledo. Her research examines postfeminist narratives and the representation of abortion in youth media. Her work appears in Girlhood Studies, Feminist Formations, Jeunesse, and Feminist Encounters. Her most recent book, Protecting Abortion Access: The Experiences of Clinic Volunteers from Roe to Dobbs, was published by Lexington Press in 2023.