My co-worker and I were discussing a show on ABC Family called "The Secret Life of an American Teenager". My co-worker has a teenager so it's relevant to her. Now maybe I am getting old but I really think this show is totally inappropriate. I realize teenagers get pregnant and it is what it is but for some reason this show among other media regarding this issue rub me the wrong way.
Why is teenage pregnancy being romanticized? Is this the message that should be sent to young girls especially by a network targeted at families. Everyone is dating everyone and the story revolves around a 15 year old pregnant girl. I think that only one episode has aired and maybe they will portray the realities of teenage pregnancy but that is unlikely. Mostly it seems they will show a glamorized, hormonally hyped high school of beautiful people whose problems (even pregnancy) can be wrapped up in an hour (or a television season)
I have more of a problem with this show then a movie like "Juno". The show on ABC Family is aimed at a young audience whereas "Juno" was aimed at a more general audience. Plus I think"Juno" showed the situation a little closer to reality and made the hardships of her situation apparent. Of course, it was still "Hollywoodized" but I thought the conclusion of the movie was based in truth and didn't necessarily tie everything up in a nice bow. I think they made it clear that she was going to have to deal with outcome of giving up her baby and that it wasn't an easy decision.
Then there is Jamie-Lynn Spears who gets to be on another magazine cover, this time with her newborn. She talks about her easy birth and how her baby is perfect and motherhood isn't hard at all. She also mentions how she can't wait to become a "soccer mom". She is 17! This is not a message that girls need to read. What about what she will miss out on? Maybe she can hire a nanny and go to college and have that experience but the typical teenage mother will not have that. I really have no problem with HER saying these things because that is a 17 year old's thought process. What really bothers me is where is her mother, where are the adults in this situation to instill reality? It is so irresponsible for the media to send out this message to girls that pregnancy and motherhood at 17 is easy and that now that she had her baby everything will be golden. They should be saying that the road ahead for her will be tough, tougher than it should be for someone her age.
It's just scary what the media puts out there for children to soak up. This all makes me very scared to have a daughter. My children will watch "I Love Lucy" and "Little House on the Prairie", and then I will home school them and not allow them to know about anything elicit. Obviously, I am kidding but it must take a great deal of parenting to raise kids now. I can only hope that this sort of media prompts parents to have conversations with their teenagers about responsibility and consequences. That's the only good thing that could come of it.
All of this just adds to my theory that morals and ethics and "doing the right thing" fall by the wayside in a capitalistic society. And yes, I know I am turning into my mother (that's definitely not a bad thing). Five years ago I would have thought this show was "cute". Now I am certain it is irresponsible.
7 comments:
Thanks for the compliment. It is a sad commentary that such things are romantacized. Girls need to see that taking care of a baby is hard work, not something you can walk away from when you get tired. And besides, where are the fathers of these babies - pretty sure most of their lives went on as before.
Did you hear about the 17 girls in Massachusetts that all are having babies this year? They think that it's because teen pregnancy is being romanticized... apparently the girls had all made a pact to get pregnant and then raise their babies together. Yikes.
This reminded me of your post: http://galleryoftheabsurd.typepad.com/14/2008/07/the-hottest-tee.html
Thanks for the link. Pretty much exactly what I think except that person "blogged about it first".
Was it Hannah who told me about the girls in MA? Maybe. Probably, because I'm always talking about how much I didn't like Juno. (Unlike pretty much everyone else who saw it.)
I agree with you. Jamie Lynn Spears and her mother are doing nothing to help the situation. Giving birth and taking care of a baby are not only hard work, they are all-consuming. These girls' lives will never, ever be the same, regardless of what they decide to do with the baby.
I always said that I wanted to be sure, both when I got married and later when I had children, that I didn't regret my choices. I wanted to be sure I experienced whatever I wanted to experience before I made those commitments. Fortunately I was able to do that, and I think my life would be very hard if I had not. Regret is hard enough; add a crummy marriage and/or a needy child to the mix and that can make for a very sad life.
katie, i love your views! And totally agree! there aren't many people left who value, well, values. thank u for being a strong wonderfull woman. this world needs more like u!
http://www.newsweek.com/id/148437>1=43002
check this out. its an article all about hollywood glamorizing teen pregnancy.
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