Progressive elements include a storyline where April (white) and Jackson Avery (Black) have a baby who suffers from sickle cell anemia, a disease disproportionately affecting Black people, underscoring racial health disparities without heavy-handed lecturing. Created by Shonda Rhimes, who has emphasized changing television's visual landscape through diversity, the season focuses on Meredith-centric family drama, flashbacks, and relationships rather than explicit social justice messaging. While some viewers noted an 'agenda' in promoting LGBT relationships around this era, there was no major 'woke' backlash specific to Season 11; elements influence character arcs and plots noticeably but do not dominate the traditional medical soap opera format.