The Golden Age of Hollywood is often remembered for its glamour, iconic stars, and classic films that shaped the industry. However, beneath the glimmering surface lay a darker reality for many actresses, who were subjected to intense control by the studios that governed their careers. Among the most personal and painful sacrifices these women were forced to make were coerced or forced abortions.
▬Contents of this video▬ 00:00 - Intro 00:43 - Judy Garland 02:09 - Jean Harlow 03:34 - Bette Davis 05:17 - Lana Turner 06:30 - Joan Crawford 08:04 - Rita Hayworth 09:02 - Marilyn Monroe 10:08 - Outro
In a time when the image of a female star was carefully curated to suit the desires of the audience and the demands of the industry, motherhood or an unplanned pregnancy was viewed as a threat to an actress’s success. Studios like MGM and 20th Century Fox wielded immense power over their female stars, dictating not only the roles they played but also their personal lives, including their reproductive choices.
Actresses like Judy Garland, who was pressured by MGM into terminating a pregnancy, faced these decisions under immense duress, with their careers hanging in the balance. Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, and Ava Gardner, among others, all experienced similar fates, often forced into abortions by the studios or the men in their lives. These decisions were rarely voluntary, as the industry valued image and profit over personal happiness and autonomy.
Marilyn Monroe, one of the most famous women in the world, experienced similar pressure, her pregnancies ending in miscarriage or termination as she struggled under the weight of her career’s demands. For actresses like Rita Hayworth and Dorothy Dandridge, their forced abortions were part of a broader system that denied women the right to control their bodies and futures. These stories, though often shrouded in secrecy, reflect the painful sacrifices Hollywood’s brightest stars were forced to make to maintain their fame, revealing the grim underside of the industry’s golden years.
Old Hollywood Actresses Who Were Forced to Have Abortions
By: Facts Verse Title: Old Hollywood Actresses Who Were Forced to Have Abortions Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysTMZ63ehho
