Teen Mom Too?
Good Morning Tom, Sybil, and Jay.
Tom, remember that scathing commentary I did a few months ago about that irresponsible TV show Skins that MTV was airing?
You know, that teen-gone-wild program with those over-sexualized and drug infested young people?
Well because of MTV’s willingness to stoop to the lowest and the youngest common denominator with that show, I expected more of the same regarding their reality shows dealing with teen pregnancy…
… 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, and Teen Mom 2…
They’re all over the tabloid covers and the ratings for these shows have been through the roof, and they are extremely popular, as one would expect, among teen viewers…
Now while the shows have received criticism for allegedly glamorizing teen pregnancy and making these girls into stars, Sybil, I’m actually relieved to hear that many responsible organizations have come out to support these programs as effective pregnancy prevention tools…
After speaking with my friends over at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, they generally believe that, though there may exist a small and troubled minority of girls who might think these types of teen pregnancy shows are a way to get famous, an overwhelming majority (82%) of the teens polled by the National Campaign responded that 16 & Pregnant showed them how hard it is to be a teenaged parent …
In fact, like a number of high school teachers who have reported using the show as a teaching tool, The National Campaign has distributed thousands of DVDs and guides to Boys and Girls Clubs of America chapters and other organizations…
However –and, Jay, this is an important caveat– the National Campaign also contends that teens need much more help and guidance than some TV show or even most teen pregnancy prevention programs, for that matter, can provide…
Needless to say, nothing can replace the role of a parent having honest and timely discussions with their teenagers about the realities and consequences of sex and unplanned pregnancy…
You know, Tom, to be quite honest, I’ll admit it’s sometimes hard for me to even have discussions like this… not because I don’t think it’s important or necessary…
…but rather because I wish we lived in a society where we didn’t have to resort to TV shows to teach these things to our children…
But, as they say, it is what it is… and though we should push to change our society in constructive ways more supportive of youth and family, we have to deal with where we are right now…
And to be honest, where we are right now ain’t looking too good…
The United States continues to have the highest teenage birth rate among fully industrialized countries… In 2009, 410,000 teenagers, ages 15 to 19, gave birth at a rate of 1,100 per day…
Teen pregnancy rates have been statistically associated with just about every social problem facing communities, including poverty, criminality, abuse and mortality, just to name a few…
So, needless to say, we have to talk about it… we have to have the conversation…
…and curbing these rates has to be a priority, especially in communities of color where these rates run higher; communities where the strikes against us are already very real even without the additional burdens presented by an unplanned pregnancy…
A number of groups and individuals, along with the National Campaign, are having the conversation and stepping up to meet the challenge of teen pregnancy… including folks here at the Tom Joyner Morning Show…
Our own Sybil Wilkes is lending her voice to this important cause and encouraging parents to have “the talk” with their children about pregnancy prevention.
For more information, tips and education on effective ways to talk to your teen or prevent teenage pregnancy, you can go to a couple of helpful sites… TheNationalCampaign.org and stayteen.org
The National Campaign also has a blog at blog(DOT)thenationalcampaign(DOT)org called Pregnant Pause that focuses on ways we can build healthy families via healthy relationships and planned, nurtured pregnancies…
And one more thing that you can do. You can call, email, or write your Representatives and Senators to tell them that any cuts to teen pregnancy prevention programs are penny wise and pound foolish, and simply unacceptable…
You know, I’m not sure who first said these words that I’m going to leave you with this week, but it certainly makes the point simple and clear…
“It sure is hard to raise a child when you are still a child.”
Until Next Time, this is Stephanie in Love and Hope.
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