MTV’s 16 & Pregnant

I thought last season of 16 & Pregnant was chock full of irresponsible children having children, which confirmed my thought when they used some of those same girls for their most recent series Teen Mom. Until this past Tuesday when they debuted the new season of 16 & Pregnant.
The advertisement of the show says “10 more girls” and I thought to myself, here we go again.

But of course MTV is going to continue to cash in on this Maury Povich type series because they are making a butt load of money off of it. Tuesday’s episode of 16 & Pregnant was #1 on cable, and #2 on TV only behind American Idol. It featured a 16 year old, rather immature girl, and her alcoholic, missing in action, loser of a boyfriend who in the end, saw the baby one time and that was it.
My heart broke for this girl’s mother. I thought Farrah from Teen Mom was bad at ditching her kid to go hang out with boys or party, but this girl took the cake. At one point she even compared being a mother to being in prison. Clearly a child that was not ready for motherhood.

But I have to wonder, with numbers, and ratings like this, what kind of message are we sending the 13-24 age group, which this show is most popular with? Now, I myself am only 24, soon to be 25, but I did not have my first child till I was 22, living on my own, and fully responsible and supported myself. And to be honest with you I would never have been able to raise a child, and live in my parents home for a wide array of reasons.

But are we showing a glorified message to these young girls of what pregnancy and parenthood is? Granted most of these girls clearly are not living the high life, but in typical teen mentality, how many will say “Oh well that won’t happen to me” or “Johnny is the love of my life, he won’t leave” when in reality the number of girls on this show that actually had their boyfriends involved in the raising of their children statisitcally was way higher than in reality.

I just think MTV should focus on shows helping teens to prevent pregnancy to begin with, not exploiting them through crappy choices.
Another thing that struck me as strange is…. why hasn’t MTV featured any girls who made the choice of abortion? It seems to be sending a very one sided message to teens, and young women watching this show.

I don’t know… I guess that is just my take on things.

I hate to see something like teen pregnancy glorified.

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7 comments

tags: 16 & pregnant, 16 and pregnant, MTV, Teen Mom, teen pregnancy
category: Uncategorized

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1

By: Old School/New School Mom Twitter: @osnsmom

I hear what you’re saying. I have mixed feelings about this series myself. I think it’s sending confusing messages to teenagers.

But it almost glamorizes teen motherhood.

I think what would be more useful is a series that truly documented the real hardships of teen mothers. This is very pop-culture-like and not “real.”
Old School/New School Mom´s last blog ..The Writing On The Wall

2

By: OrganicEcho Twitter: @OrganicEcho

I totally agree with your line of thought. Teen pregnancy is a serious issue and shows like this paint a wrong picture of the reality.

MTV is exploiting a sensitive matter for financial benefits. Entertaintainment at the cost of social irresponsibility is not worth it in my opinion.

If the show showcased the real situations with real issues. it would have still made some positive impact. But, this show is simply confusing the teens as the article rightly points out.

3

By: Christa Twitter: @LittleBGCG

I watch 16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom pretty much every week. This week was easily the most repulsive episode I’ve ever seen. Did you catch the part where she said babies are “clingy”?

I have a hard time understanding how teens could watch this show and think being a Teen Mom is a good idea. I know the teens that I know watch this show and understand more why they don’t want to put themselves in that situation but I can see how others would think “if they can do it I can do it”.

I know they’ve covered adoption and plan on doing so in the future but I’m assuming that covering abortion would be way more than MTV is willing to take on.
Christa´s last blog ..He Likes his Collar Popped

4

By: Unknown Mami

I think your take on it is pretty right on. I especially appreciate the point you make about abortion not being presented.

Thank you for visiting on my SITs day! You contributed to making it a wonderful experience.

5

By: Caity Twitter: @caitysparkles

I totally agree with you. The whole idea of the show disgusts me and I refuse to even watch it because I am just repulsed. I don’t watch much TV at all anymore because I just physically can’t.

I think that you are absolutely right. It would make for a much better society if they were actually doing something to help and inform young people instead of profiting on these poor girls and glorifying something that shouldn’t be glorified.

6

By: Kristi Twitter: @TweetingMama

I’d have to respectfully disagree with you on this. My husband and I have watched Teen Mom with our 12 and 14 year olds. The show came along in our homes at the perfect time – as sex education was being covered in my children’s school. Not only has the show helped to provide a picture of what life as a teen parent can be like, but it’s also helped to open up dialogue with our children concerning teen sex, etc. They are terrified about having sex before they’re ready and even more terrified about the life-changing possibility of becoming a teen parent. My children have goals and know where they’re going and they realize, thanks to Teen Mom, that these goals will be sidetracked should they become teen parents.
Thanks so much for this post and for commenting on my blog. It’s so great to get everyone’s perspectives on different topics. Thanks again.

Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
Kristi´s last blog ..From Breastfeeding Bliss To Breastfeeding Bitterness

7

By: Danielle

I am so glad that there are parents actually sititing down with their children to watch this show and use it as a teaching tool!
I do think that not only using this as an opportunity for sex education, it opens communication much more regarding sex, and those difficult teen talks!