In recent years MTV’s hit shows “Sixteen and Pregnant,” “Teen Mom,” and “Teen Mom 2” have hit our nation. These shows follow the lives of dozens of young women faced with a pregnancy at a young age. In “Sixteen and Pregnant” viewers see how a teen pregnancy affects the lives of both parents leading up to, and shortly after, the birth of their child. In both “Teen Mom” and “Teen Mom 2,” MTV focuses on the aftermath of the birth, like how the moms and their children are doing today. However, this exposure has lead to dozens of magazine covers in the tabloids and a debate on whether or not these shows are glamorizing teen pregnancy and exploiting the child.
Amber Portwood, one of MTV’s stars has faced charges of domestic abuse on her boyfriend, Gary. Maci Bookout faces the trials and trepidations of parenting with an ex that wishes to be apart of his son’s life. Farrah Abraham faces raising her daughter as a single parent because her boyfriend passed away in a car accident shortly before she was born. Catelynn Lowell must face her decision to give her daughter up for adoption every day.
According to a government study, teen birthrate has declined by six percent in the past few years that these shows have aired. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has reported that 82% of teens who have watched these shows have acknowledged that they have “help[ed] them understand the challenges that come with unexpected parenthood.” Only 15% have said the shows glamorize teen pregnancy.
The stars of “Teen Mom” and “Teen Mom 2” are paid anywhere between $60,000 and $65,000 per season. Is this the price to pay for exploiting their children to the world but helping other teens to “understand the challenges”? The oldest child on these shows is only two years old. Is it fair to exploit him for money and fame? Where is the line drawn in society today and should these shows be cancelled for the sake of the children?
Here are some articles that give opposing views on the idea of glamorization vs. knowledge:
I believe that shows like these are exploiting the children, and the parents are using their unplanned child to get money. Although this show may be helping other teenagers realize the hardships of teen pregnancy, there must be another way to get this point across, without the use of child exploitation. The following quote from first article, "So instead of really helping viewers understand the day-to-day responsibilities of attending to a new infant -- scrubbing poop stains or spit-up out of clothing -- or dwelling on the "mundane," MTV chooses to focus on the girls' volatile relationships with the babies' fathers or their new body piercings and tattoos. That makes for better TV," indicates that these television shows are exposing the wrong idea about teen pregnancy. The teens in this show do not show a model life, which is not a good thing for other people to watch, and other young teens are getting the idea of getting pregnant to be put on the show. In the comments from the second article, someone wrote asking if his 15 year old pregnant sister could get onto the show. This is ridiculous, as people are getting pregnant and then looking toward the show to be put onto television. All in all, I believe that in the best interest of the children and others who may perceive teen pregnancy as glamorous, these shows should no longer be aired. Instead, the show should be recreated and moved to a documentary channel, and focus on showing the responsibilities and hardships involved with teen pregnancy rather than glamorizing it for MTV viewers.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this show is considered to be glamorous it also shows the difficulties that teen mom's face. I don't think this show should be cancelled because it is showing teen girls and even some boys that being pregnant as a teenager can jeopardize certain aspects of your life. These girls had to grow up at the age of 16 when they made the mistake of getting pregnant. These teen moms are living the lives regular teen moms would but with the fact that they getting paid as much money as if they were working in the corporate business world. I know we all say that we would never do such a thing but if we had the chance to be a celebrity I think most of us would take up the offer no matter how bad it could be. As for people who are going to the extreme measures of getting pregnant just to be on the show that is just stupid on many levels. I think Teen Mom provides us an insight to what it's like to have a kid at 16 to basically scare the crap out of us so we won't make the same mistake.
ReplyDeleteThere are other ways to help teens understand the challenges of teen pregnancy besides the exploitation of their innocent young children. These shows do more harm then good for these teens and their young children. Just because these moms are payed 60,000 a season what happens when they don't get a season 2 and that money runs out? Now these teens lives do a 180 as they go from being on the TV to working multiple jobs paying for schools and sitters and never being able to have the time to better themselves with an education so they can get that higher paying job instead of those minimum wage jobs shelling out tacos. I feel that if the point of these shows are to stop other teens from getting pregnant then they shouldn't do it at the cost of these children. There are other shows on TV that help teens realize what happens when they get pregnant at a young age and don't do it at the cost of innocent young people and their kids, like The Secret Life of the American Teen. This show shows kids what comes with getting pregnant at a young age and gives them information on how it can be prevented all the while not exploiting one child for profit like Teen Mom.
ReplyDeleteMy first thoughts on this topic is that these shows glamorize teen pregnancy and that they are inappropriate to show on television because the target audience is teenagers. That was how I felt until I read in the post that the teen birthrate in the past few years has decreased by six percent and I can't argue you against that. I had never really watched the show thoroughly before but I can see why it would repel teenagers from teen pregnancy. The show definitely shows the difficulties of teen pregnancy. I also believe the parents on the show are exploiting those children by having them on the show. Those kids aren't allowed to make the decision of whether to be on the show or not and their parents are doing it for a profit. If the parents were doing it to show the difficulties of being a teen parent that would be different, but they are doing it for money instead. In response to Lauren's comment, most people would take up the offer to become a celebrity but I don't think they would put it before their family if they truly loved them. These teenagers show they have trouble making good decisions in many ways and I don't think they should be allowed to exploit their children for money. The show has some beneficial factors to it but also some detrimental ones. I personally have trouble watching the show anyways and it will never be my first choice when I turn on the TV but thats another issue for another time.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about MTV’s series ‘Teen Mom’ and ’16 & Pregnant’. At first thought, it seems as though the shows work as motivation to deter teens from getting pregnant by showing the hardships that come with parenting. The decrease in teen pregnancy in the last few years seems to back this idea. My question is not whether the show was intended to glamourize teen pregnancy or show the reality of it (I believe the creators had the best intentions), but rather, are additional seasons and series necessary? One of my friends from freshman year of high school was featured on the latest season of ’16 and Pregnant’. She always made it clear that she couldn’t wait to be a mother, and I believe finding out that the moms on the show received money for exploiting their lives was a contributing factor to her desire to become pregnant. If the show was designed for the sole purpose of informing teens on the hardships of teen parenting, wouldn’t a single season have been sufficient? And the accompanying series ‘Teen Mom’ be unnecessary, since the point of making teens aware of the challenges was already addressed? To add additional cast members to numerous seasons may intrigue some individuals to want to become pregnant in order to be on TV, regardless of the trouble they may face as a parent.
ReplyDeleteOn the issue of exploiting children, I believe one season, of one show, would have been a sufficient way to get the point across without exploiting the children involved to the world. Many shows on Discovery Channel and many other programs feature real life stories, involving real life people, all with the sole intention of educating the audience on a particular issue. I feel that when the parents begin receiving money for featuring every aspect of their child’s life on television it becomes exploitation, and consequently, is wrong. The ongoing portrayal of these children and their lives is unfair to the kids.