Grey’s Anatomy to Abbott Elementary: Writing Family-Work Stories in TV and Film

How do popular TV shows and films shape our perceptions of work, family, and caregiving and help us feel seen, understood, and connected to others? In this virtual event with Harvardwood, Vicki Shabo—Senior Fellow for Gender Equity and Care Policy at New America and founder of the Re-Scripting Gender, Work, Family, and Care initiative—will analyze how caregiving, gender equity at work and at home, and work-family dynamics are portrayed in major series like Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, Abbott Elementary, Lopez vs. Lopez, Fire Country, and Virgin River and more, as well as in recent films including Everything Everywhere All At Once, American Fiction, and Origin.

Drawing from her extensive experience as a policy strategist and cultural narrative expert, Shabo will explore the ways in which these stories either reinforce or challenge conventional norms. The discussion will delve into how writers and creators can better depict authentic caregiving experiences, promote more inclusive and equitable narratives, and inspire meaningful cultural change, based on what audiences want to see. Using examples from current and recent shows, Shabo will highlight what’s working, what’s missing, and how the entertainment industry can reimagine stories that reflect the realities of managing caregiving and work-family conflict.

For writers interested in continuing the conversation past the event, join a 30 minute breakout session with Vicki to explore strategies for creating richer, more representative stories in media after the main event.

Vicki Shabo

Senior Fellow for Gender Equity, Paid Leave, and Care Policy and Strategy Founder and Director, Entertainment-Related Narrative and Culture Change Practice Better Life Lab at New America

Vicki Shabo is a gender equity expert, policy strategist, and coalition builder, who has helped to win paid leave, paid sick time, equal pay, and pregnancy fairness policies affecting tens of millions of people. Shabo also recently founded an initiative called Re-Scripting Gender, Work, Family, and Care, which marries policy, research, and narrative expertise to resource TV, film, and pop culture creators with the information they need to tell more authentic and aspirational stories about work-family justice, gender equity, caregiving, and an inclusive economy. Shabo has testified in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, and before the Democratic Party’s platform committee. Her opinion pieces have been published in outlets including The Boston Globe, CNN.com, The Hollywood Reporter, The Hill, New York Daily News, New York Times, Romper, Roll Call, and USA Today and her observations have been featured widely in national, regional and state news stories. She holds degrees from Pomona College (B.A., summa cum laude), the University of Michigan (M.A. in political science) and the University of North Carolina School of Law (J.D., high honors), where she served as editor-in-chief of the North Carolina Law Review. She lives in Washington D.C. with her husband, teenager, and two cats.

*By RSVPing for this event, you agree to the Harvardwood Code of Conduct.