ABC Sure Wasn't Happy About Grey's Anatomy Using This Word Too Often
Since its inception in 2005, Grey's Anatomy has been praised time and time again for the way the show depicts and addresses a wide variety of social and political issues.
Over time they have covered many more important issues including racism, domestic abuse, gun violence, and mental health, and been met with praise from audiences.
Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes knew that a clash with ABC executives over some of the show's themes and ideas was inevitable, but she was shocked to find that when she did receive a note from executives, their complaint was over the use of a rather simple medical term.
If one were to break down the show's title, "Grey's Anatomy" it would point to two of the biggest themes of the medical drama.
"Grey's" refers to Meredith Grey, the star of the show. Meredith is a complex and highly capable surgeon and a strong woman, with the show focusing largely on her journey; "Anatomy" refers to the scientific study of the human body.
So, imagine the irony of the executives raising an issue with a certain word referring to a part of the female body being said too often.
It seems the over-use of the word made the largely male board of executives uncomfortable, but Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes was quick to point out the fact that the word "penis" was used 17 times in a single episode with no objection from those in power.
If you haven't already guessed, the word that put ABC executives on edge was none other than "vagina".
Grey's Anatomy has featured bizarre storylines and medical cases, like a woman experiencing spontaneous orgasms, a man experiencing a hysterical pregnancy and the infamously uncomfortable ghost sex scene between Izzy and Denny.
There was no objection from executives in any of these instances when there rightly could have been, instead, it was the use of the proper word for a woman's private part that made them uncomfortable.
Let's not forget that these were the same executives who raised issues with the pilot episode that saw Mederith having a one-night stand the night before she started a new job.
Shonda and the other pioneering women behind Grey's Anatomy are all too aware of the double standards that still exist today in many industries, and this incident just proved that their work in bringing about equality was far from done.
Thankfully, they have and will always have the support of their fans in their mission for representation and inspiring a new generation of powerful women.