Teen pregnancy shows effect teen pregnancy
Preface: I in no way, shape or form condone teen pregnancy or sex. I believe that it is parental responsibility to have an open line of communication with their children/teens in order to fully and properly educate them about the consequences of having an active sex life and the great possibilities of pregnancy.
via MTV
For the current MTV generation the focus is no longer what the name broadcasts, which is to say MUSIC television but rather more teen packed drama fueled “reality” than even I know what to do with. Recently MTV has wrapped one of it’s most popular shows “Teen Mom”. Without missing a beat they are currently moving on to a second season which has a few American’s in a panic.
Formerly the argument used to be that even the mention of teen pregnancy on television would bring about an unholy epidemic of teen pregnancy and fornication! Underage girls would suddenly think it was cool to go through their high school years with a baby on the way, morning sickness, and so much baby fat that their skinny jeans would no longer be an option. Let’s not forget the evil power of television and it’s ability to turn your brain to mush, corrupt your children and single-handedly plunge America into decline!
MTV did take pioneer efforts in Nov. 11, 2007 with their True Life episode:” I’m Pregnant”. It was (to my recollection) the first honest look at youth dealing with pregnancy as opposed to some distant glance at a character pretending to live their life with unrealistic tension from the world around them. Even ABC Family missed the mark with “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (in late 2008) which was everything but realistic.
via MTV
It wasn’t until June 11, 2009 that MTV outdid itself with the debut of “16 and Pregnant” which eventually spawned “Teen Mom”, a deeper look into the reality of being a teenage mother. The show wrapped Feb. 2nd and before anyone could say ‘birth control’ MTV announced it’s plans for casting season 2. Which sparked a new debate: could this be the new form of encouragement for teens to get a little air time?
Listen up people there is nothing that links television exposure of teen pregnancy to actual teen pregnancy. In fact current statistics show that pregnancy is on the decline currently (keep in mind these statistics were taken during the days before REALISTIC teen pregnancy on television). The truth is, there are several factors that contribute to teen pregnancy. The only thing we can really do is wait for the statistics to provide clarity and in the mean time remember that it’s up to the parents to educate their children and simply hope for the best. It’s time to stop running from the truth or skirting around the issues because they’re ‘sensitive subjects.’ And for the love of all that is good and right with the world, stop blaming your t.v. set for your choices in life!
Personal Advice: When you decide to have sex you make a choice, you had better be ready to deal with the consequences of your actions.
“When you decide to have sex you make a choice, you had better be ready to deal with the consequences of your actions.”
That right there is why I refuse to watch shows about teenage pregnancy and motherhood. These girls knew what they were getting into when they decided to open their legs…I do NOT want to listen to them whine and cry for a half an hour about how difficult their lives are. Motherhood is difficult? Really? I never would have guessed.
“For the current MTV generation the focus is no longer what the name broadcasts, which is to say MUSIC television but rather more teen packed drama fueled “reality” than even I know what to do with.”
MTV actually just changed their logo. I couldn’t find the original article that I read, but I found a link to a much less informative one. Apparently MTV’s reason for changing their logo was that they wanted to take focus off the “MUSIC” in Music Television. They’re aware that their channel is now focused primarily on reality TV.
http://flavorwire.com/68793/theres-no-music-television-in-mtvs-new-logo
Seriously! It’s stifling at best and a travesty at most.
I watched the True Life about pregnancy but I’ve never made it through more than ten minutes of Teen Mom. I just fail to understand what goes through people’s heads when they get into this shit. And worse yet, they decide to keep their kids rather than, I don’t know, putting them up for adoption where they might be cared for by RESPONSIBLE people.
Today’s generation is starting to make me sick.
And MTV should be ashamed of themselves. The word MUSIC is in the name, it should be illegal for them to have all the horrible programing that they do.
My little cousin is obsessed with this show, and she told me that there was only ONE episode where the baby was put up for adoption. I know that I have no place in deciding what a mother decides to do with her child, but it makes me sick that those girls are selfish enough to keep their baby…undoubtedly damning it to a life of hardship.
*shakes head in disappointment*
I wish instead of the tooth fairy, there was a condom fairy, and every time you put a woman on top of your pillow, the condom fairy would appear and give you a rubber so you don’t end up ruining your life on a crappy MTV show.
Lol!
If only such fairy tales were true. Maybe, someday such magical creatures will reveal themselves and save the world one more welfare check.
I do believe it has a lot to do with parenting, but at that fragile, confusing age, all hormones going all over the place there is no right way to deal with a teen’s sex life. Parents can only do their best communicating openly with their kids and really hope for the best.
But I do think that if a teen gets pregnant she should consider with her parents, all the options. No matter what, it’s going to be very hard on the kid emotionally.
I suggest people going through this to check out http://www.adoptionservices.org, they give you all types of financial, psychological and medical advice.
I also wish programs on TV were less sexual. I’m not a prude, I’ve been a teen so I know what could be triggers. If it’s on TV it’s OK.
My two cents.
Anne I really appreciate your insightful, well thought out response to this post.
I also appreciate you providing a link to that website, I believe it will be beneficial for other readers. Thanks again.