Teen Pregnancy 21

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Jessie Black
Professor Neal-Gillim

English

6 February 2011

TV Influencing Teen Pregnancy

In today’s society there are many television shows that involve the challenges of being teen parents. Such shows are 16 and pregnant, Teen Mom, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. These shows are very popular and viewed by teenagers all over the world. But are these shows really showing teenagers the challenges of being a teen parent or are they influencing teen pregnancy? Many people debate whether or not these television shows are really preventing teen pregnancy. Researchers were beginning to realize the rates of teen pregnancy were increasing and wondered if television shows had an impact of these rates. The researchers from Rand. Corporation found that teenagers exposed to sexual content on television are twice as likely to become pregnant under the age of twenty than a teenager not exposed to such television. I believe such television shows are giving young viewers the impression that being a teen parent is easier than expected. The sexual content included in these shows are influencing teenage pregnancy and sexual behavior.
While some people believe that these television shows influence teen pregnancies, others believe that these shows help young viewers realize the challenge of being a teen parent. Bill Albert, chief program officer from the National Campaign said,
although MTV executives are "in the entertainment business," not "the teen pregnancy
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prevention business," advocates need to accept that "we are probably unlikely to make any progress without them." Furthermore, the shows reach "millions and millions of teens," Albert also said, "We simply can't do that in sex education classes." Albert’s central point is that these television shows are reaching out to teens more than sex education classes are. Shows involving sex and parenthood are more entertaining for young people than a sex education class. Television shows...