Response: Teen Pregnancy: Media Influence or Bad Parenting?

This post is in response to:

http://lifeisbetterinblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/04/teen-pregnancy-media-influence-or-bad.html

Hi Kathleen,

I enjoyed reading your post and I think you brought up some really important points.

 The growing rate of teen pregnancies in America is definitely concerning. I don’t think we can point the finger at one cause for teen pregnancies… rather, it is a very complex issue that is likely a result of several sociocultural factors.

Firstly, like you mentioned, teen pregnancies have taken the spotlight in the media with television programs like MTV’s Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant. Celebrities’ babies are more famous than ever before and share the covers of People magazine with their famous parents. This growing trend of having pregnancies so popular in the media makes me wonder whether media is driving the increase in teen pregnancies or whether popular culture is just a reflection of what is actually happening in America.

Another contributing factor to the growing rate of teen pregnancies is the lack of education on safe sex. Earlier this week, my classmate told me about her experience teaching health education to a class of grade 7 students. When discussing methods for practicing safe sex, she was shocked when many of her students believed withdrawal was one of the most effective methods to avoid pregnancy! It seems as though the popular culture and the available education (which is lacking) send contradicting messages to teenagers - the media seem to often glorify pregnancy while of course, education seeks to control it.

Is media just a reflection of the population? Perhaps popular culture is partially responsible for the rise in teen pregnancy rates. Or maybe they are mutually informing.

The last point you made about the four eighth grade girls was definitely a shock. This just speaks to the fact that there is a lack of parental guidance, which is another contributing factor to the growing rates of teen pregnancies. There is not enough critical dialogue happening between parents and children about the responsibilities that come along with raising a child, how to deal with peer pressure, and methods of birth control. If teenagers were more aware of the realities of pregnancy, it is very likely that fewer would be getting pregnant.

The issue of growing rates of teen pregnancy is complex and there are many causes that contribute to the problem. Influence from the media, lack of education, and lack of parental guidance all contribute to the increasing trend. I believe the key to lowering teen pregnancy rates is communication and education.