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| Are they celebrities or the best birth control ever? |
Though the idea of teen pregnancy has been splashed all over media outlets, statistics say that teen pregnancy rates have actually dropped - and that MTV can be thanked for that. In Janice Armstrong's article "Teen Pregnancy Rate Drops" for Philly.com, she compares the effects "16 & Pregnant" as well as "Teen Mom" to those of a "cold shower". Further in her piece, and interviewee suggests that the fear of glamorizing teen pregnancy through the media, may be a generational issue. While the older generation sees shows like "Teen Mom" and "16 & Pregnant" as a way to idolize teen mothers and reckless intercourse, the younger generation sees this as a wake up call and "probably the best teen-pregnancy PSAs that have ever been produced."
If Kim Kardashian feels that watching your peers go through agonizing pregnancies/labors and countless fights with families and/or significant others is glamorizing the notion of teen pregnancy rather than discouraging it, she must have a very obtuse definition of "glamorizing".
-Andrea W.
I have read several articles where they have shown that 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom is actually helping teens understand the consequences of "teen pregnancies". These shows have a way of getting through to teens on their level. I think that is the key to reducing the teen pregnancy rate. Teens don't like being told what to do by adults and are greatly influenced by their peers more than adults anyway. Therefore, teens should be the ones to tell other teens the truth about what it is like to be a teenage mother.
ReplyDeleteMontgomery, K
This is a very interesting topic to bring up because Kim Kardashian's sister, Kourtney had a baby out of wedlock and in a lot of people's eyes she was someone who was "glamorizing" pregnancy. She went through the whole process a lot easier then the women on 16 and Pregnant because of her financial situation and the ability for her to have endless help caring for her son. I too have read several articles about this and I do agree that the show does glamorize pregnancy to an extent. I think that it also helps teenagers understand that it does happen to everyday people, not just the people who are living in the ghetto or having other major problems. I think what really glamorizes pregnancy is when you see celebrities pregnant, often buying fancy clothes and carrying their children around shopping with them, almost like a fashion accessory. I think teenage pregnancy is an issue in America we have to face, but ultimately, one show isn't going to totally eliminate the problem nor make the pregnancy numbers go up substantially.
ReplyDeleteSarah D.
I agree that Kim Kardshian has a very distorted view of the show if she thinks it is being depicted as the "trendy thing to do." I know I personally would never want to deal with any of the troubles and hardships that I watch the teen moms deal with on an everyday basis. The show exhausts me. I do not see one glamourous aspect of having a child as a teenager. The show constantly has a negative tone and the amount of arguments between the mother and father are never ending. I feel sorry for the children having to grow up in this kind of atmosphere. Janice Armstrong has it right in that this show is absolutely a "cold shower," it definitely made me think twice. I think more often teens make up a "best case scenario" in their heads while they are pregnant and then are shocked to find out how difficult it really is. The show makes it real, and that is very scary to the teenage population.
ReplyDeleteKelsey P
The notion that 16 and Pregnant glamorizes pregnancy exemplifies the way people of different ages view teen pregnancy. Compared to the past, where teen mothers were instantly shunned regardless of the situation, 16 and pregnant is glamorizing teen pregnancy. I think back to the public service announcement that was shown in class, and I can see that anyone who thought that was the norm would be shocked at an episode of 16 and pregnant. That being said, I think that for our generation the show most definitely serves as a warning of "these people are just like you, and you can get pregnant. So be careful"
ReplyDeleteTaylor Z
This is just plain sad. Glamorizing pregnancy as the new fad? Where is the world coming too? we want to empower women and show them that their bodies are beautiful but instead we are objectifying their bodies not only sexually but for entertainment. Pregnancy is and can be a beautiful thing for a woman but it has been turned into a circus act especially in the cases of teenagers and I think it it is absolute madness. I feel like the media is becoming more and more sick and twisted as the weeks progress.
ReplyDelete-Alice M