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MTV Exploiting Pregnant Teens?
Filed under: Opinions
Pregnant teens are new reality show stars. Image: sxc.hu
"Our new shows will feature themes of affirmation and accomplishment," said Brian Graden, president of entertainment at MTV Networks music channels and president of Logo. "Our shows are going to focus less on loud and silly hooks and more on young people proving themselves. These are themes that are consistent with the Obama generation."
Technically, I guess their soon-to-premiere reality show "16 & Pregnant" fits the bill. Starring real-life pregnant teenagers, the show will document the challenges these girl face as they come to terms with their forever-changed lives.
"'16 & Pregnant' follows the journey of six young women going through an immensely life-changing experience at such a young age," says Tony DiSanto, MTV's president of programming. "Each episode tells a new, unique story and shows the real-life challenges they face from dealing with family and friends to school and finances as new mothers. This is the real secret life of an American teenager."
I suppose this show is meant to serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of having sex. And while it might serve that purpose in some way, what else does it do? Does it glamorize teen pregnancy? Does it exploit these young girls and send a message that getting pregnant equals attention? Or worse, does it normalize something that should remain abnormal: Children having children?
DiSanto brags about MTV's long history of reflecting the lives of their viewers with "compelling reality stories." But I can't help but wonder if the commercialization of teen pregnancy is merely reflecting reality or helping to shape it.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-27-2009 @ 12:29PM
Melissa said...*sigh* I remember when MTV was exactly what those three letters stood for: MUSIC TELEVISION!
Reply
5-27-2009 @ 12:52PM
maritza said...ur right melissa!
wat ever hapend to the music.
But i do believe though that it wil be a good show for youth bcuz it wil let them see the reality about being a mother. its not easy as they believe and they al ready want to have children so young!!
Reply
5-27-2009 @ 1:08PM
damoki said...MTV is no different than any other profit center. They will apply the old saying, "If fools didn't go to market, bad wares would not be sold." If you believe in a singular public service side of any commercial company, please, "go to market".
There can be no exploitation if viewers don't watch: the Hulu ads may be right.
In my opinion, the one thing you always get in life is what you settle for... if you want better 'stuff', don't settle!
DaMoKi
Reply
5-27-2009 @ 1:14PM
damoki said...Maritza,
Please take this comment in the most positive light possible. You need to go back to school; your 'writing' needs it and your future will be better for it.
Best of Luck!
DaMoKi
Reply
5-28-2009 @ 9:24AM
LS said...People (not just kids, although they're far more impressionable) see what they want to see. So the message that kids will get will be the one that reinforces what they already think. If they think that having a kid at age 16 is cool and will garner the attention that they so desperately seek, then this show will reinforce that. If they think that having a child at 16 is a stupid decision, and a reason to not have sex, they'll get THAT message.
We shouldn't be looking to TV to shape our kid's future anyway. ESPECIALLY MTV, which was mediocre (at best) back when it did what it was supposed to do, and that was show music videos.
Reply
6-05-2009 @ 9:39AM
Danielle said...I used to watch MTV all the time and I remember when it was about music. Why don't they let TLC have 16 & Pregnant? After all that is The Learning Channel. I think this show is going to show some teens what it is like to become a mom but it isn't going to stop teens from having unprotected sex.
Every mom is not like the people on that show. I've seen the preview and I am not going to be like that. I'm not just going to leave my kid laying there crying. I feel this show is going to have pros and cons. I am tired of people this day and age seeing a younger woman pregnant as a bad thing. If she has a job and her fiance has a great job and she is going to college still I don't think that is such a bad thing.
Yes, yet there are some teenagers and adult people that become pregnant and they couldn't stop it. Think about it if you were pregnant and it just comes up unexpectedly would you have an abortion Would you have the guts to not let a life live? I'm eighteen and pregnant and I don't regret it. It's not an all around bad thing. I'm happy.
Reply
6-15-2009 @ 11:09PM
Kat said...Danielle,
You are absolutely right. I also think this show will have some pros and cons just like the many other shows on television. I'm 18 and pregnant with my first and hopefully only child. I have a great support system and really it is not like i'm not going to know what to do. I know for certain that being a mother is a tough job. I helped my mom raise my brothers while she worked to put food on the table. I have seen the first episode of the show and I must say that it is a great way to show young adults what they will be going through as young parents. My boyfriend and I are extremely happy and have absolutely no regrets. :)