Figure 1: The Influence of the Media on Teen Pregnancy. 2010. video. YouTube.comWeb. 4 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CibnFEN0Iv4>.
The Situation:
It is clear that
what is shown on television, in movies, on the internet, and broadcasted over
the radio has a significant impact on the people who are exposed to such
media. Today, moral codes and social standards are on the decline. This significantly impacts the more impressionable minds of our
teenagers. One of the biggest topics portrayed in today's media is teen pregnancies.
Two of today’s most popular television shows are closely followed
on MTV. They are:
-
“16 and Pregnant”
-
“Teen Mom”
These shows have a very negative impact on their younger viewers
as they advertise that it is fun and exciting to have a baby in high school.
MTV is not the only contributor, however. Many films have been released that star
pregnant teens as well. The movies Knocked Up and Juno were top sellers and had an obvious effect on society. After Juno
was released, scores of teenage girls began to discuss how much fun it
would be to have a baby. There was even
a group of seventeen year olds that formed a pact to get pregnant together
(Housman).
Diaphana Distribution, . A Scene From 17 Filles. 2012. SlateWeb. 4 Nov 2012. <http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/03/a_new_french_movie_about_the_gloucester_pregnancy_pact_.html>.
Tabloids and teen magazines often feature excited, young,
pregnant celebrities looking pretty for an eager audience. The problem with this is that the photos and
tidbits about these celebrities fail to capture the big picture. “All we see is the cute baby and the
celebrity mom” (Housman).
The message: Teen pregnancy is glamorous.
This is not a message that should be broadcasted to the youth of our society.
The Justification:
Some would argue that the purpose of these television shows is:
- To portray how difficult it is to be a teen mom
- To display the negative sides of having a baby while in youthful years
- To make people conscious of the problems that arise
with teen pregnancy
- To feature “cautionary tales” of pregnant teens
(Vlahos)
The Reality:
While the original intent of the mass media may have aligned with
positive goals such as these, they have had an opposite effect. Some
consequences of being pregnant are portrayed, but nearly every story “come[s] to an
end like a nice little package with a bow on top” (Housman). Rather than deterring kids from sex and
warning them of the adversity immoral actions can bring, the media has
completely glamorized the situation. Instead of portraying the main
characters as cautionary tales, they have been made celebrities. The
media and the culture that follows it expose kids to the idea that it is
exciting to be a pregnant teenager.
Works Cited
Diaphana Distribution,.A Scene From 17 Filles.
2012. SlateWeb. 4 Nov 2012.
<http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/03/a_new_french_movie_about_the_gloucester_pregnancy_pact_.html>.
Housman, Brian.
"Popular Media Glamorize Teen Pregnancy." Teen Pregnancy and
Parenting. Lisa Frohnapfel-Krueger. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010.
Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Teen Pregnancy Not All Happy
Smiles." Awake to Life. 2008. Gale Opposing Viewpoints
In Context. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.
The Influence of the Media on Teen Pregnancy. 2010. video. YouTube.comWeb. 4 Nov 2012.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CibnFEN0Iv4>.
Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar.
"Born to consume: For MTV, teen pregnancy is big business." The
American Conservative 10.7 (2011): 22+. Gale Opposing
Viewpoints In Context. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.
