An issue that I find to be a major stumbling block for many people in today’s society is the glamorization of teen pregnancy. Every young person in today’s world is put through some form of “Sex-Ed” in elementary and middle school to learn about risks of unprotected sex and the methods of protection. While many students will retain and use the information they learn to protect themselves in the future from diseases and pregnancy, others will not. According to Pregnant Teen Help, a website designed for girls or couples facing the reality of pregnancy at a young age, nearly one-third of girls in the United States will become pregnant in their teenage years. Although this number may seem high, statistics show that the number of teenage pregnancies has dropped since the 1990s as a result of pregnancy prevention programs. There have undoubtedly been several steps taken in the right direction over the past two decades to improve the situation. Despite the strides the United States has made in regards to lessening the number of teen pregnancies, television networks are having a slightly opposite affect on the population. Specifically speaking, the popular series 16 and Pregnant and its sequel Teen Mom have successfully given teen pregnancy a more favorable look to the younger population. Seeing all of the attention the teenage, expecting, mothers-to-be receive and the support they get from their parents and friends is enough to overshadow the logical, harsh facts a young person knows about teen pregnancy. Though a mature-minded person would know to trust the factual information on teen pregnancy, a young person is more likely to be swayed by a pop-culture reality show, which is probably leaving out a majority of the hardships teen moms face with their families, significant others, physical well-being, school, etc. So, what’s more important? Giving the younger population a popular, dramatic, reality show to watch, or making sure the information on methods of protection is ground into their minds? Is it possible to do both simultaneously, or a lost cause? I would assume that a greater part of the older population would agree that shows such as the series mentioned above are not helping young people make smarter decisions than they already are.
I feel that this show also portrays the reality of being a teen mom and the obstacles that that they have to face. I think that it has its pros and cons, it just depends how you interpret it.
ReplyDeleteI think that because the show compensates the moms, they will obviously be richer than normal teenagers. So it doesn't completely portray a "normal" teenage pregnancy. Also, I think they do portray the negatives of teen pregnancy, but it interpreted by (especially younger viewers) as something desirable.
ReplyDeleteI total of nine out of 136 girls that I graduated either were pregnant in high school or are pregnant now (I graduated this past spring). I think that media in American culture attempts to show the cons of teen pregnancy, but they fail and instead have almost become an encouragement for teens to get pregnant. I have tried to build a bridge between the gap of all of my old classmates that are now parents. No matter how hard I try to understand, I can't. Maybe it's just my age, but I could NOT see myself as a parent four years ago, now, or anytime soon!
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