Trigger warnings for pregnancy/birth trauma should be standard in visual media
Trigger warnings for pregnancy/birth trauma should be standard in visual media
The Issue
As a doctor specializing in women's health, I have heard many stories relating to birth trauma, baby loss and pregnancy loss. The writers of this petition have lived experience of miscarriage and birth trauma themselves. TV and films can be immensely triggering when they show miscarriage, abortion, violence or peril during pregnancy, birth trauma, or baby loss (such as stillbirth). Given that approx. 15-20% pregnancies end in miscarriage (1) and 1 in 3 births are in some way traumatic (2), the potential number of people exposed to unexpected traumatic content is vast. Even for those experiencing uncomplicated pregnancy or parenthood, watching content like this can be hugely disturbing.
For example, in 2022 a leading fantasy drama received an unprecedented level of complaints when it showed a brutal scene of childbirth that ended in tragedy and seemed highly gratuitous [House of Dragons - ref?]. Many sources of media use pregnancy and childbirth as plot devices without due regard to the deeply emotive nature of the topic [ref?].
Currently, trigger warnings included as standard at the start of TV programmes and films, refer to drug use, violence, suicide and sexually explicit scenes. The Ofcom guidance does recommend including 'pregnancy and maternity' matters, (see below) but this is usually not honoured; we argue these should be included as standard.
Including reproductive health issues in media is important - this is not about censorship, but about understanding, so that those who have lived through such experiences can choose to engage only when they feel mentally prepared.
Sign this petition alongside us, and add your voice to the call for trigger warnings as standard for visual media depicting trauma relating to pregnancy and birth.
Current Ofcom guidance:
2.3: In applying generally accepted standards broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context (see meaning of “context” below). Such material may include, but is not limited to, offensive language, violence, sex, sexual violence, humiliation, distress, violation of human dignity, discriminatory treatment or language (for example on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, and marriage and civil partnership), and treatment of people who appear to be put at risk of significant harm as a result of their taking part in a programme. Appropriate information should also be broadcast where it would assist in avoiding or minimising offence.
Image credit: vecteezy.com
References
3
The Issue
As a doctor specializing in women's health, I have heard many stories relating to birth trauma, baby loss and pregnancy loss. The writers of this petition have lived experience of miscarriage and birth trauma themselves. TV and films can be immensely triggering when they show miscarriage, abortion, violence or peril during pregnancy, birth trauma, or baby loss (such as stillbirth). Given that approx. 15-20% pregnancies end in miscarriage (1) and 1 in 3 births are in some way traumatic (2), the potential number of people exposed to unexpected traumatic content is vast. Even for those experiencing uncomplicated pregnancy or parenthood, watching content like this can be hugely disturbing.
For example, in 2022 a leading fantasy drama received an unprecedented level of complaints when it showed a brutal scene of childbirth that ended in tragedy and seemed highly gratuitous [House of Dragons - ref?]. Many sources of media use pregnancy and childbirth as plot devices without due regard to the deeply emotive nature of the topic [ref?].
Currently, trigger warnings included as standard at the start of TV programmes and films, refer to drug use, violence, suicide and sexually explicit scenes. The Ofcom guidance does recommend including 'pregnancy and maternity' matters, (see below) but this is usually not honoured; we argue these should be included as standard.
Including reproductive health issues in media is important - this is not about censorship, but about understanding, so that those who have lived through such experiences can choose to engage only when they feel mentally prepared.
Sign this petition alongside us, and add your voice to the call for trigger warnings as standard for visual media depicting trauma relating to pregnancy and birth.
Current Ofcom guidance:
2.3: In applying generally accepted standards broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context (see meaning of “context” below). Such material may include, but is not limited to, offensive language, violence, sex, sexual violence, humiliation, distress, violation of human dignity, discriminatory treatment or language (for example on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, and marriage and civil partnership), and treatment of people who appear to be put at risk of significant harm as a result of their taking part in a programme. Appropriate information should also be broadcast where it would assist in avoiding or minimising offence.
Image credit: vecteezy.com
References
3
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Petition created on 8 August 2024