Response: Teen Pregnancy: Media Influence or Bad Parenting?

Here is my response to Kathleen’s post (which can be found here: http://lifeisbetterinblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/04/teen-pregnancy-media-influence-or-bad.html)

What a great post, Kathleen, and I think you bring up some really good points. When you see a rise in something like teen pregnancy, it is really concerning. When you consider shows like Teen Mom, you have to start wondering where the root cause lies – is it lack of information, or is it the glory of fame?

Someone mentioned in class that she had heard teens were purposefully getting pregnant so they could be on a show like Teen Mom – I don’t think I’ve heard anything in class so far that has disturbed me more. Reality television, like we’ve discussed in class before, often celebrates some of the worst aspects of humanity – fame-whoring, beat-at-all-costs for money, sexualized behaviour for 15 minutes of notoriety type behaviour. Watching it, you are often repulsed and intrigued all at the same time – it’s like a car accident – you don’t want to look, but you can’t look away. This is why I am so saddened that some young teens, watching a show like Teen Mom, are finding the lifestyle attractive instead of concerning.

I have watched Teen Mom – I’ve watched all of it. It is my guilty pleasure, but I am kind of shocked that some would find it a life to emulate. I am always kind of struck by these young women – they face insurmountable odds and had to change their whole life around in the face of this pregnancy. Their personal lives are often a mess between fighting with the partner of their child to arguments with parents, they have little money, and few opportunities to do better. Many of them seemed to have big plans for themselves pre-pregnancy, but are now faced with the prospect of putting off an education and plans of future development in order to raise a child. The message I take away from this is they have to struggle to survive against a very challenging situation. I find it troubling that other teens don’t see this in the same light.