MTV's New Series: Sixteen and Pregnant

[MetaKittie]

Article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/10/AR2009061003833.html?hpid=topnews)

Preview Video (http://www.sexetc.org/blog/2009/06/11/mtvs-new-series-on-teen-pregnancy/)

Teen pregnancy is on the rise for the first time in 15 years, and what does MTV do? MTV made a series. Just to show you they're not as one-sided as they seem.
Has anyone watched it yet? I'm rather interested where they're going to take this whole thing.

[BlasphemousHeart]

Gawd... some of the people on that show are so annoying. I only watched about ten minutes of the show and it didn't seem that great.

[MorganaFang]

Gawd... some of the people on that show are so annoying. I only watched about ten minutes of the show and it didn't seem that great.

Might serve the point that some of "these people" should not have been having kids (http://whythefuckdoyouhaveakid.com) or trying to act like their high school relationships were end all true love. That just is rarely the case, no matter how mature you think you are. Teenage years just doesn't bring that type of maturity for either.

[BlasphemousHeart]

The girls seem air headed and believe it's love, while the guys are going, "Oh Crap! What have I just done on National TV..." Unneeded teenage drama....

[MetaKittie]

The girls seem air headed and believe it's love, while the guys are going, "Oh Crap! What have I just done on National TV..." Unneeded teenage drama....

Most teen fathers won't stick around. They just won't.
Partly I blame the fact that many teen boys that I have met are still rather immature and idealistic. Not all, but most I've met.
And teen love is called teen love for a reason. Because I lot of the times they're test relationships, they're trying to figure out what love is.
So back we go to the point, use a condom AND a second form of birth control. Every. Single. Time.

^ Campaign right there.

[Klark]

So back we go to the point, use a condom AND a second form of birth control. Every. Single. Time.

^ Campaign right there.

Or just don't have sex. I realize that's asking a lot, but it's possible.

[Lore]

Or just don't have sex. I realize that's asking a lot, but it's possible.

I think teaching about birth control, condoms and the like is a much more responsible action than trying to teach abstinence.

[Binkx]

I think teaching about birth control, condoms and the like is a much more responsible action than trying to teach abstinence.

I say teach about both. Teach both thoroughly.

But I haven't even heard of the show. I haven't watched MTV in years, and with obvious reason. And this show seems about as interesting as their other "We deal with real life issues" shows that they have had on for short periods of time.

[Tempest]

I watched the first episode, and I liked it. Not only does it show the tension that the baby caused in the teen's relationships, but it showed how the teen mom was unable to do the things she wanted to do as often as she liked. Plus, there was an little ad in the corner of the screen that said something about learning how to prevent unplanned pregnancy. I think the show is meant to show how teen pregnancy/parenting really is, not to glorify it.

[MorganaFang]

I think the show is meant to show how teen pregnancy/parenting really is, not to glorify it.

That's good to hear considering it's family channel dramatized equivalent still comes off as teenage pregnancy is not only somewhat easier but has sexy consequences.

[Raiden]

Or just don't have sex. I realize that's asking a lot, but it's possible.

Some people these days just take masturbation for granted. What a shame...:(

We cannot neglect ourselves!

Shane

[Wolf-Bone]

Some people these days just take masturbation for granted. What a shame...:(

We cannot neglect ourselves!

Shane

Well if our culture would rethink the whole "only losers masturbate" thing maybe.

[MetaKittie]

I think teaching about birth control, condoms and the like is a much more responsible action than trying to teach abstinence.
In health class they somewhat glorified the teen mothers in my school. They brought them in, set them down in front of us and had us ask questions while the girls were all "Oh hes so cute but he has a temper! I still love him"
They never touched the topic of abortion, probably because it would be controversial, but they should have said it.
The most worrying thing about teen pregnancy is the fact that the teens have a mindset about it. They glorify it, are obsessed with it, then when its born they're all saying "Oh shit, what do I do now?"

[Tempest]

They glorify it, are obsessed with it, then when its born they're all saying "Oh shit, what do I do now?"

Yep that was on the show, too. The teen mom said that she wasn't prepared when she brought her newborn home. She thought her and her fiancee would "just know what to do". I had to laugh at that one. Mothering isn't instinctual for humans; you have to learn it. I don't think a lot of teen parents-to-be even pick up a parenting book, aside from looking through baby name books for cute names.

The first episode is online (http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/16_and_pregnant/series.jhtml) if anyone wanted to see it.