Opinion: T.V. dramas diminish severity of pregnancy
Reality TV has become a huge part of entertainment in America, but a new aspect of modern life has been greatly altered by TV’s inaccuracies; teen pregnancy. According to USA Today, the teen pregnancy rate in 26 US states has gone up 3 percent; rising for the first time in more than a decade. In 2006, about 40 out of every 1,000 women gave birth before the age of 19.
But all things considered, this is not surprising, especially with newly popular T.V. shows, such as 16 and Pregnant, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Teen Mom, on the rise. Research by the RAND Corporation shows that the amount of sexually centered TV programs directly correlates with teen pregnancy rates. And with the average American teenager watching more than three hours of TV daily, the newest episode of Teen Mom has great potential to affect the attitudes of teenage viewers towards the ethical side of teen pregnancy. These reality TV shows and dramas make the viewer comfortable with the idea of teen pregnancy as something easily managed.
These new shows, however entertaining, have become the leaders in misleading reality TV. They present young viewers with teenage girls who sob over trivial things. The real problems are hidden behind a vast array of smaller issues. The shows portray the teen moms living casual life styles, some even remaining in school. Amy Juergens, from The Secret Life of the American Teenager finds the time to go on dates after having a baby and Catelyyn in Teen Mom, has a supporting boyfriend right by her side every step of the way. Whether through adoption or parental assistance, the girls on reality TV have the support many teenagers lack in real life.
In the first episode of 16 and Pregnant Maci, one of the main characters, enjoys fancy restaurant dinners with her friends, receives an abundance of presents at her baby shower, and even owns an apartment with her fiancé. This case presented by MTV, once again, doesn’t depict the true reality of being a teen mom.
According to Planned Parenthood, about 80 percent of teen mothers require public assistance in various forms, such as food stamps, housing assistance and many forms of financial aid. Presenting so-called “reality” TV shows with teens living comfortably either in their own homes or with parents is just one way MTV has created a false image of what teen parenting is really like. Girls like Farrah, on Teen Mom, often have patient, well-to-do parents willing to allow them to stay at home and continue going to school.
However, teenage pregnancy doesn’t only cause short-term effects on the mother exclusively. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 78 percent of children born to teen moms who never graduated from high school will go on to live in poverty.
Through ignoring these crucial dilemmas of teen parenting, reality TV skews our perception of how difficult the task really is. The glamorization and distortion in these shows practically promotes teen pregnancy.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what we want to see. We love to hear the heart-warming music at the end of each episode. We want to see the bad boyfriend leave as the new boyfriend comes in and helps take care of the baby. With this insatiable desire for happy endings, our “reality” TV shows will continue serving us what is straying farther and farther from reality.