June 11th, 2009 MTV launched new Tv Show about young and pregnant. Tv Show comes up to the 3rd season and is still a big controversy of MTV. Producer Morgan J. Freeman was making an attempt to show how teenage mothers, struggle with their pregnancy, their 'new life', face their problems, parents and peers in high school.
The Tv Show became a success. However, the road to hell is always paved with good intentions, so '16 and Pregnant' faces tons of critics about promoting teen pregnancy, stereotyping teenagers and representing pregnancy as negative thing.
But wait a minute, is it true? are these accusations correct. If we bother to look from other perspective we will see that '16 and Pregnant', now followed by 'Teen Mom' http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/teen-mom is a great attempt to break stereotypes about teenager and young people. If we bother to see these episodes try to show that despite of all the problems and struggling that those girls have to overcome, they are good mothers and they are capable of bringing up their child. They are shown as people who are being responsible for their actions, not those who abandoned their child. They find strength and confidence not only to handle harshness of pregnancy but moreover to face their fears, their parents and peers, who do not understand them.
Well and if you still stubbornly believe that these episodes promote early pregnancies, then it is time to realize that it is aimed for those who are already pregnant and they are in fear and this Tv Show is a standup and help for those who need support. After all, being a teenage mum is much better then being a teenage murderer or abandoner...
I think this show is extremely controversial.
OdpovědětVymazatBut you are saying that on one hand this show shows teenage parents as strong and responsible, being able to handle their difficult situation. And on the other hand you are saying that despite that it doesn't promote teen pregnancy.
I don't want to do the "either, or" thing but in this case I think that if you say that being a 16-year-old parent is not as big of a deal as we thought it were you are in fact saying that teenagers should have kids and its OK.
Teen pregnancy is a big issue in America and it is something that should definitely be prevented. Kids need to be educated about safe sex and the difficulties and responsibilities of parenting.
The issue of abortion that you briefly touched in the end, calling it "murder" is a whole other issue, and while I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, this notion should not be presented as the general idea to the kids, as you suggested.
After all, the show is not only watched by pregnant teenagers, in fact I'm sure most of its audience are non-pregnant teenagers.
Well, the last point is too controversial to be included in the last sentence but it might start the debate and discussion about abortions. However, that is a little bit off-topic. Have you considered the warning messages this show might send? I mean it could also work as "warning" or "what if" young girls get pregnant and are not ready yet. But as the ordinary viewer who have encountered shis show 1-2 times I have to agree with you that initially it sends more the negative connotations and stereotypes (not being able to take care of child, organize the life etc.) but if you say that there is the growing tendency of their care of the baby then it might work as the breaker of stereotypes. That is the shame that they don't show at the end of the show a little preview of "what will happen next" where they can show how the situation was handled well. Because from looking on 1-2 episodes I got exactly those negative stereotypes you wrote about :) Bob
OdpovědětVymazatHollo Rita,
OdpovědětVymazatI would like to touch the issue you mentioned here about these "responsible" parents. Do you think that it is reponsible to have a child and not being able to support them? A have watched a couple of episodes, and my opinion somehow differs. These teen moms strongly depend on their parets, they help them financially and they also baby-sit the little ones, which often creats conflicts in families. A lot of teen moms do not have stable partners and children have to grow up in the environment of constantly changing dads. Those moms that do not have support of thir parents move a lot and are under a big pressure. Kids may not be aware of this because they are so little, but I think it will affect them later in life. That is why I have to diagree with your statement that it is better to be a teen mom than abandoner. Maybe it would be better for babies to grow up in more friendly environment through adoption as we could see in one case in this show.
Negative stereotypes are defenitely portrayed, but this is such an important issue and people need to know the risks of being pregnant at such early age.