TimmyHTeenage Pregnancy, Hollywood Style
July 25th 2008 01:52
The once taboo world of teenage pregnancy is popping up more often in popular culture. Hollywood has been increasing the exposure of teenage mothers in movies, TV and magazines. The problem being that a half hour television program or even a two hour movie isn’t long enough to give an accurate depiction of the implications of teenage pregnancy. Presumably, the children in these media portrayals have been immaculately conceived.
The premiere episode of the new drama “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” is a perfect example. Amy, a 15 year old high school student, comes home from band practice to discover that the pregnancy test she has taken is positive. The shocking revelation is described to her friends as “definitely not like what you see in the movies.” But how did she get “sprogged up” in the first place?
At no point does the show mention that Amy probably had unprotected sex. Instead, the plot meanders along to her new love interest and the conclusion of band camp. We don’t get an explanation of Amy’s use (or lack thereof) of contraceptives or whether her parents have had “the talk” with her. The show suggests that life begins at pregnancy.
Amy’s story has become more popular as a plot driver in the media recently. TV shows like “Secret Life” and “Baby Borrowers” have been perpetuating the story, always starting with pregnancy and then moving onto admission to the family. For some reason these programs are suggesting that parents are more likely to have a post-pregnancy discussion of sex with their children than before the fact.
Last year’s Hollywood smash hit “Juno,” which became a heart-warming story of adoption started out with an unintended pregnancy. But back in the real world, Nickelodeon star Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy has been splashed about magazines left and right. “I can't say it was something I was planning to do right now. But now that it's in my lap and that it's something I have to deal with, I'm looking forward to being the best mom I can be.”
The wise old 17 year old has already been sharing her enthusiastic advice on parenting, saying late last year that “being a mum is the best feeling in the world.”
While many teenager mothers and their families are happy to see pregnancy stories in the media, the most critical parts of the story are being left out. How the pregnancy occurred and the struggles of early motherhood don’t seem to be high priorities for producers. In “Juno” the word condom is only used twice and “The Secret Life” is no better. These programs don’t ask the female characters how they got pregnant or whether they have considered STD testing which should be a logical first step after unprotected sex.
Jane Brown, a journalism professor at the University of North Carolina and convenor of the Teen Media Project says “They’re missing three C's: there's little commitment, no mention of contraception and rarely do we see negative consequences. What's missing in the media's sexual script is what happens before and after. Why are these kids getting pregnant and what happens afterward?”
The realities are not being shown. The average age for first sexual intercourse is 16.9 for guys and 17.4 for girls. One third of those that get pregnant will have an abortion while two thirds will end up giving birth. Teenage mothers are less likely to finish school and far more likely to remain single parents. And according the Centre for Disease Control in the US, more than a quarter of females will have had an STD by age 19.
But the lack of realistic exposure is not what audiences want. A 2007 study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy revealed that more would like to see the consequences of sex shown on TV. But the topics are naturally difficult for the popular media to address. The recent furore over Abstinence-Only sex education is also something that writers and producers would prefer to avoid wherever possible.
Perhaps the problem is that people are still too embarrassed about their own sexuality to want it thrown in their faces on TV. Showing only the results of teenage sex avoids this issue entirely. It is almost as though sex doesn’t even need to happen for pregnancy to come about.
More than 80 percent of parents and over two thirds of teenagers say that they don’t know how to discuss sexuality with one another. Another shocking revelation. Perhaps the only reasonable portrayal of “the talk” was a few years back on “The O.C.”
Did you…you know…wear protection?
Ohhhh my god yes. Ohhh my god yes, I don’t believe you just asked me that.
Well I’m sorry, but I had to. It’s so good that you did. If you’re going to have sex you’ve got to be responsible.
Check it out here…It’s not much…but I think it’s a great start.
Really Long Link
The premiere episode of the new drama “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” is a perfect example. Amy, a 15 year old high school student, comes home from band practice to discover that the pregnancy test she has taken is positive. The shocking revelation is described to her friends as “definitely not like what you see in the movies.” But how did she get “sprogged up” in the first place?
At no point does the show mention that Amy probably had unprotected sex. Instead, the plot meanders along to her new love interest and the conclusion of band camp. We don’t get an explanation of Amy’s use (or lack thereof) of contraceptives or whether her parents have had “the talk” with her. The show suggests that life begins at pregnancy.
Amy’s story has become more popular as a plot driver in the media recently. TV shows like “Secret Life” and “Baby Borrowers” have been perpetuating the story, always starting with pregnancy and then moving onto admission to the family. For some reason these programs are suggesting that parents are more likely to have a post-pregnancy discussion of sex with their children than before the fact.
Last year’s Hollywood smash hit “Juno,” which became a heart-warming story of adoption started out with an unintended pregnancy. But back in the real world, Nickelodeon star Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy has been splashed about magazines left and right. “I can't say it was something I was planning to do right now. But now that it's in my lap and that it's something I have to deal with, I'm looking forward to being the best mom I can be.”
The wise old 17 year old has already been sharing her enthusiastic advice on parenting, saying late last year that “being a mum is the best feeling in the world.”
While many teenager mothers and their families are happy to see pregnancy stories in the media, the most critical parts of the story are being left out. How the pregnancy occurred and the struggles of early motherhood don’t seem to be high priorities for producers. In “Juno” the word condom is only used twice and “The Secret Life” is no better. These programs don’t ask the female characters how they got pregnant or whether they have considered STD testing which should be a logical first step after unprotected sex.
Jane Brown, a journalism professor at the University of North Carolina and convenor of the Teen Media Project says “They’re missing three C's: there's little commitment, no mention of contraception and rarely do we see negative consequences. What's missing in the media's sexual script is what happens before and after. Why are these kids getting pregnant and what happens afterward?”
The realities are not being shown. The average age for first sexual intercourse is 16.9 for guys and 17.4 for girls. One third of those that get pregnant will have an abortion while two thirds will end up giving birth. Teenage mothers are less likely to finish school and far more likely to remain single parents. And according the Centre for Disease Control in the US, more than a quarter of females will have had an STD by age 19.
But the lack of realistic exposure is not what audiences want. A 2007 study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy revealed that more would like to see the consequences of sex shown on TV. But the topics are naturally difficult for the popular media to address. The recent furore over Abstinence-Only sex education is also something that writers and producers would prefer to avoid wherever possible.
Perhaps the problem is that people are still too embarrassed about their own sexuality to want it thrown in their faces on TV. Showing only the results of teenage sex avoids this issue entirely. It is almost as though sex doesn’t even need to happen for pregnancy to come about.
More than 80 percent of parents and over two thirds of teenagers say that they don’t know how to discuss sexuality with one another. Another shocking revelation. Perhaps the only reasonable portrayal of “the talk” was a few years back on “The O.C.”
Did you…you know…wear protection?
Ohhhh my god yes. Ohhh my god yes, I don’t believe you just asked me that.
Well I’m sorry, but I had to. It’s so good that you did. If you’re going to have sex you’ve got to be responsible.
Check it out here…It’s not much…but I think it’s a great start.
Really Long Link
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Comment by TimmyH
Tech News
Can you HACK it?
Genyration
I think there's a post idea in that...lol