Representation of unplanned pregnancy in contemporary Spanish cinema: from voluntary abortion to unwanted motherhood

This article examines the representation of unplanned pregnancy in contemporary Spanish cinema between 2014 and 2024, with the aim of identifying the dominant narratives surrounding this experience. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative analysis of a selected corpus of films, the study investigates the narrative evolution of unplanned pregnancy, the diversity of the characters depicted, the reproductive agency of female protagonists, and the visibility of voluntary termination of pregnancy. The findings reveal that socio-economic conditions exert a decisive influence on how protagonists experience and negotiate unplanned pregnancy, shaping both their interpretive frameworks and their available choices. Despite this, the socio-demographic diversity of characters remains notably limited, particularly in relation to class, race, and other structural determinants, reflecting a homogenised representation of reproductive experiences in Spanish cinema. A key result of the study is the marginalisation of abortion as a reproductive option: legal abortion is explicitly represented in only two of the 14 films analysed, while most narratives emphasise either motherhood that is ultimately accepted or failed attempts to end the pregnancy. This pattern suggests that Spanish cinema continues to privilege conventional reproductive frameworks, offering few portrayals that normalise abortion as a legitimate and accessible choice. By critically engaging with these cinematic trends, the article contributes to broader debates on reproductive rights, gendered agency, and media representations of women’s health. It highlights the need for more diverse and realistic depictions of unplanned pregnancy to challenge dominant narratives and expand cultural understandings of reproductive justice.