Running head: TEEN PREGNANCY

Does the Media Glorify Teen Pregnancy? Rebecca Hill Madonna University

TEEN PREGNANCY Abstract

Teenage pregnancy had been positively influenced by the media through television series, movies, and the internet. All of these different aspects to media and technology have broken the communication barrier between teens and adults. They provide teens with multiple conversation starters, as well as the courage to bring up the subject. Media also forces the teenager to truly think and examine the consequences of getting pregnant so young. Finally, it is able to implement education through examples as well as easily accessed facts and other information, such as answers to embarrassing questions. All of this positive influence is best seen through the comparing of pregnancy rates, before and right as the media took ahold of the teen pregnancy issue.

TEEN PREGNANCY Did you know that three out of ten teenage girls will become pregnant this year? (The National Campaign 2014). With the debut of controversial television shows such as Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant, as well as movies like Juno and Where the Heart Is, brought about the once

hidden issue of teenage pregnancy. Back in the day, teens used to be sent away to grandmas or conveniently take a vacation, for nine months, and mysteriously return, shamefully hiding the problem. Now, this issue is out in the open. Many seem to believe that increase media influence is encouraging teenagers to want to have a child and start a family extremely young. However, studies and observations indicate otherwise. Teens say that the media influences them in a more positive way, and even helps them with this issue. Although the media has brought up the controversial teen pregnancy subject, it has positively influenced teens through breaking communication barriers, promoting thinking, and providing education, which can all be seen through the declined teenage pregnancy rates. Everybody knows that media outlets and technology are the main way teens tend to communicate. This type of media can be helpful in such problematic situations, like teenage pregnancy. Websites like Stayteen.org help teens converse on the subject. They also provide instructional ways to bring up topics with parents, as well as give out helpful advice and tips on aspects of sex teens might be too shy to talk about. Communicating has always been a problem with the teen pregnancy issue, however, the media helps teens break that barrier. A 2012 survey released by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy states that, Teens say parents most influence their decisions about sex and 87 percent say it would be much easier for them to postpone sex and avoid teen pregnancy if they were able to have more open, honest conversations about these topics with their parents (The National 2012). The main idea here is to be able to talk to trusted adults about sex and pregnancy, and be able to ask questions

TEEN PREGNANCY and get advantageous advice. By watching television shows as well as movies about teenage pregnancy together can also serve as a gateway to conversation with parents or trusted adults. In turn, teens can be more open and honest with their parents, who would be able to give them the proper guidance needed to better plan their future, and avoid problematic obstacles like teen

pregnancy. In fact, a different study conducted shortly after the debut of MTVs television series 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom, stated that: 76% of young people say that what they see in the media about sex, love, and relationships can be a good way to start conversations with adults (Anonymous 2010). Conversing with adults is the biggest way that the media has positively influenced teen pregnancy. Talking about conflicts and issues going on in life provides open communication and trust between a teen and an adult. These are critical points in a teenagers life where everything begins to change, and it requires the proper guidance and support. The best way for the adult to provide this for the teen is through the open and honest communication. Adults can not only guide through experience, but also give the right suggestions and reassurance needed to ensure the youngsters best future. This type of relationship is the best, and most beneficial, during these unstable, constantly changing, teenage years. Not only is the media promoting conversations between teens and adults, it is prompting teens to think about their own lives. Jennifer Trudeau states in her article that shows like 16 & Pregnant influences attitudes towards sexual relations by forcing teens to think about their future career aspirations and personal goals (Jennifer Trudeau 2013). Seeing someone so close to a persons age going through all these multiple different hardships and struggles is forcing an individual to feel empathy and put themselves in their situation. By doing this, the teen will truly see that if they want to obtain certain goals in life, they simply cannot afford to have a child that young. This is how the media puts the parts of a teens life into perspective. Trudeaus article

TEEN PREGNANCY also states that in a study performed by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned

Pregnancy, 93% of viewers [ages 10-19] perceived pregnancy depicted in the show to be harder than previously expected (Jennifer Trudeau 2013). Before the media stepped in, majority of teens had no idea what it would be like to have a kid. Even more, a greater proportion most likely never even thought about the consequences of having sex, like conceiving a child. This truly shows yet another strong aspect about what the media has done pertaining to teenage pregnancy. It has not only been able to bring the issue into households, but has reached teenagers in a way that simply conversing alone cannot. Media actually allows the teen to truly see the difficulties and struggles of their peers, forcing them to think how they would react when put into a similar situation. Once the teen is able to make this connection, they then get to the realization that they are not equipped to deal with raising a child. The media has also influenced teen pregnancy through the aspect of education. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy collaborated with MTV to distribute thousands of 16 & Pregnant episodes to educators and youth programs, along with discussion guidelines to follow the shows (Anonymous 2010). These can lead to questions that could solve issues the teen is currently facing on their own. Also, these prompt the teenagers to think more, as well as hear the opinions and questions of others. All of this put together helps the teen realize the consequences of teen pregnancy and parenthood. Not only are the struggles discussed in the classroom, they are seen throughout all the episodes of the 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom series. Teens witness the financial hardships, difficulty to pursue education, and family struggles. These series truly serve as a learning experience, showing that although a teen may be able to show unconditional love for their child, they simply may not be able to provide them with the best lifestyle and future. Another media outlet majority of teens has access to now

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a days is the internet. Here, we see website like www.stayteen.org, which is run by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. This is an informational website that provides all different types of information and answers many different questions teens might have. The website provides a wide variety of facts, including things like: Less than half of teen mothers ever graduate from high school and fewer than 2% earn a college degree by age 30 and You may think having a baby will make your relationship even stronger, but the fact is 8 out of 10 fathers dont marry the mother of their child (The National Campaign 2014). Providing easy access to information like this is not only promotes thinking, but also serves as an educational tool. It is a great resource for those shy teenagers that feel they have no one to confide in. It also is able to administer answers to questions teens are just too scared or embarrassing to ask their peers or adults. Media in this form, allows the teen to remain completely confidential while still learning the information and facts they need to know. Sometimes this is the best strategy when dealing with teenagers. This is the age where talking and learning about sex may be awkward, uncomfortable, or embarrassing; outlets and outreach campaigns like this allow teens to get the information they need without the undesired consequences. Yet another educational promotion that The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is doing is the National Day for teen pregnancy, where teens could visit the Stayteen.org website and take quizzes and participate in activities in order to help prepare them for what they would do in certain situations (The National 2012). This allows teens to better anticipate what future situations will hold, not only preparing them for the future but also serving as an educational tool. Having a National Day for such an issue helps get the word out, and getting the teen involved helps better enforce the consequences. Also the National Day provides yet another reason to bring about the issue in the media, leading to increased knowledge on the subject.

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The best way to truly see the medias positive influence on teenage pregnancy is through the amount of teens getting pregnant. In 2009, which will be considered the media phase, teen pregnancy rates decreased 37% from 1991, which will be the pre-media phase (Pazol Warner et al 2011). This clearly shows that since the emergence of teen pregnancy in the media, there has been a significant decline in the number of teens getting pregnant. Teenagers are able to openly discuss and obtain the proper knowledge when it comes to the subject, which attributes the decline in pregnancy rates. All of the hard work done by educators, The National Campaign, as well as the individual teen, have been paying off. Thus, an improved life of the teen will be reached as they can achieve their personal and academic goals. The media has thoroughly exposed the issue of teen pregnancy, portraying the picture perfect family and failing to show day to day struggles of a teenage mother. Shows like Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant focus only on the happy moments, like going to the zoo, planning baby showers, and childhood milestones instead of the difficulty of attending and finishing school, and meeting financial needs. This portrayal is influencing teens that getting pregnant at such a young age will not affect the overall outcome of their quality of life, and will just sooner provide them with the perfect loving family to which they can be the ultimate stay at home mom. All of this happy media glorifies teenage pregnancy and encourages a teenager that it is quite acceptable to get pregnant at such a young age. One of the biggest impact shows like this have accomplished is to make it more socially acceptable for teenage girls to become pregnant. Many believe this to be a negative aspect, again encouraging teenager that it is alright to conceive. However, some situations are just unavoidable as part of lifes pleasant surprises. Some of the stares and whispers still remain, but a teenager mother no longer has to hide herself in shame. Many young babysitters nowadays are assumed to be, approached, and treated as a mothers, as opposed to

TEEN PREGNANCY being harshly judged by older individuals. If one truly watches these shows, they will see just that as a large proportion of adults are not only willing to help, but are sympathetic to their situations. They will also witness much more than just the joy filled, loving moments. A viewer will even begin to feel sympathy as they witness the academic struggles of one teen mom when she is forced to drop classes to raise her child and as another mom has taken two extra years to

finish obtaining her GED. Still, more hardships are seen while another mom struggles to provide a safe, sanitary home for her twin daughters. The media has been able to reach the younger generations through technology and publicity in a way previous generations have not, providing teens with the proper knowledge and portrayal of the highs and lows of teenage pregnancy and motherhood. This new found way to reach out to teenagers has proven to be effective, as seen in the decrease in teen pregnancy rates over the past decades. Therefore there has been no glorification of a teenage pregnancy, as many critics still maintain to believe, but only an increase in acceptance to those in the tough situation of young parenthood. Teenage pregnancy is a serious problem that has been brought to into the live light by the media over the past few years. Media outlets such as television shows, movies, and the internet have been able to influence teenage pregnancy in a positive way. They have been used as conversation starters, thought provokers, and most importantly educational tools. All of this positive influence is best seen through the decline in teenage pregnancy rates, especially considering it was in the early phase before the media took teen pregnancy into full swing. There are times where the media can be quite harmful to our youth, but when it comes to the issue of teen pregnancy the media is simply trying to provide the proper support. This helpful and correct guidance is seen through an open communicable relationship with an adult, promoting thinking

TEEN PREGNANCY about their own lives, an increase in education, and finally an increased social acceptance of pregnant teens and teenage mothers.

TEEN PREGNANCY References Anonymous. Is media glamorizing teen pregnancy? (2010, Oct 04). PR Newswire. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/756209889?accountid=27927 Pazol, K., P., Warner, L., P., Gavin, L., P., Callaghan, W. M., MD, Spitz, A M,MS, MPH, Anderson, J. E., P., . . . Lynfield, R., M.D. (2011). Vital signs: Teen pregnancy - united states, 1991-2009. (). Atlanta: U.S. Center for Disease Control. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/863263290?accountid=27927

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The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (2014). Teen Pregnancy. Stayteen.org. 04 April 2014. http://stayteen.org/teen-pregnancy. The national campaign to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy: Teens say parents most influence their decisions about sex. (2012). Professional Services Close - Up, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1010835511?accountid=27927 Trudeau, J. M. (2013). The role of new media on teen sexual behaviors and fertility outcomes the case of '16 and pregnant'. Rochester: Social Science Research Network. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1473253457?accountid=27927