Teen+Mom+-+TV+Show

= **Teen Mom (TV Show)** =
 * Louise Zhang**

//Teen Mom// is an American reality show that airs on MTV. As a spin-off of the original television show, //16 a////n////d Pregnant,// four of the original girls’ lives were taped during their first year of motherhood. The first season premiered on December 8, 2009 and there are currently two seasons of //Teen Mom.// Along with their first year of motherhood, the television series documents their changing lives including their relationships, family, friends, education, employment and struggles. On January 11, 2011, another spin-off, //Teen Mom 2//, was announced featuring four completely new girls.
 * History of //Teen Mom//**[[image:Teen-Mom-Season-Summary-1.jpg width="237" height="167" align="right" caption="Teen Mom logo"]]

//Teen Mom// and //Teen Mom 2// have caught the attention of celebrities, parents and adolescents alike. However, the show is gaining more and more attention as well as being seen in a different light. “MTV has received calls from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, academicians and even the White House — where the president is on a personal mission to emphasize the importance of young men taking responsibility for their children, which includes waiting to have them,” (Grigsby Bates, 2010). By using these reality shows in the classroom, they show students that parenting is much more than just having a child. The struggles are an extreme reality for students showing them that finishing an education, having a relationship and having a job are much easier said than done. Grigsby Bates (2010), notes that the previous mentioned outlets would all like to use //16 and Pregnant// and //Teen Mom// as a teaching tool and thanks to the Kaiser Family Foundation, they can. The Kaiser Family Foundation has funded the reproduction of the television series and allows the distribution to schools, nonprofits and social service organizations that are interested in reducing teen pregnancy. However there are two sides to everything. Many who believe in abstinence only sex education will disagree with using the television series in the classroom. Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, states, “Young people also need a stronger ‘risk-avoidance message,’ which comes from abstinence programs and parents,” (Salamon, 2010). While there will always be those that hold different views regarding sex education, these reality television series can now be a new implementation.
 * //Teen Mom//** **and Educa****tion**

The teen birth rates in the United States have significantly dropped. “Over the last two decades teen births have dropped 37 percent in the United States and are now at a record low, government health officials report,” (Reinberg, 2011). However, the United States is still leading the pack at the number one spot among the industrialized countries. “The United States has the highest teenage birth rate among the fully industrialized countries, although that number has slowly declined over the last 20 years. Even so, in 2009, 410,000 teenagers, ages 15 to 19, gave birth — or 1,100 a day,” (Hoffman, 2011). So as the birth rates have fallen, many argue if this may be linked to television series like //Teen Mom// and //16// and //Pregnant//. “Last summer, in a national telephone poll of young people ages 12 to 19 commissioned by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 82 percent of those who had watched “16 and Pregnant” said the shows helped them understand the challenges of pregnancy and how to avoid it,” (Hoffman, 2011). Many believe that these shows are a primary reason as to why teen pregnancy rates have dropped. The issues within the show make the issues hit closer to home and emphasize the struggles. Sarah Brown, chief executive of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy states, “There is no question that these shows are affecting the conversation about teen pregnancy and teen motherhood,” (Hoffman, 2011). “This generation of teens is very oriented to reality shows in general. They seek them and they believe them. These shows resonate powerfully.” Along with using //Teen Mom// in the classroom as well as adolescents who choose to watch the show, it allows teens to see firsthand what happens with teenage mothers/parents. Parents can also feel more open communicating with their teens on premarital sex, being able to use the show as an outlet. Bill Alber, chief program officer of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, states, "What's driven the teen pregnancy rate down is a combination of less sex and more contraception," (Reinberg, 2011). "So we need to encourage more of both." Throughout the series and in the season finales, the teen moms are always stating how becoming a teen mom is a lot of work. They talk about what mistakes they made to get where they are, although never regretting having their children. Whether it was skipping birth control pills or having sex without protection, they all recognize where contraception failed them and the price they have had to pay.
 * Declining Teen Birthrate**

//Teen Mom// has been very controversial since the date it aired. Many of the topics regarding the glamorization of teenage pregnancy, those arguing that it does not glamorize teenage pregnancy and the latest heat it has taken has been the teens that chose abortion on //16 and Pregnant//. Amy Kramer, director of media relations for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, states, "This is an honest and gritty portrayal of a very, //very// difficult thing," (Grigsby Bates, 2010). "To say that these shows are glorifying teen pregnancy is like saying //The Biggest Loser// is glorifying obesity.” In the same poll commissioned by the National Campaign mentioned above, “Only 15 percent said the show glamorized pregnancy,” (Hoffman, 2011). Celebrities like Kim Kardashian have been noted on Twitter standing her ground on how these teen moms should not be glamorized for their roles. Kardashian wrote, “It seems that shows like 'Teen Mom' are all of a sudden making teen pregnancy seem cool in the eyes of young girls," (Macatee, 2011). She furthered her argument by writing, "The kids from these shows are all over the news, even on the covers of magazines, and have become almost like celebrities, but girls, these are not people you should idolize," (Macatee, 2011). Currently, prolife activists are accusing MTV’s //Teen Mom// series promoting abortion. A teenage mother on //16 and Pregnant//, found out she was expecting a second time after the show. Markai Durham chose to share her story and decided to have an abortion. According to Daly (2010), the show ran at 11:30 p.m. past the bedtimes of the network’s youngest fans. These series are here to show the truth about teenage pregnancies and the three options expecting teens can make: to have the child, put the child up for adoption or to abort the pregnancy.
 * Controversy**

**References** Daly, Sean. "'16 and Pregnant' Abort Show Furor - NYPOST.com." //New York News | Gossip | Sports | Entertainment | Photos - New York Post//. 27 Dec. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

Grigsby Bates, Karen. "MTV's 'Teen Mom' Makes For Teaching Moments : NPR." //NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR//. NPR, 10 Aug. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

Hoffman, Jan. "Fighting Teenage Pregnancy With MTV Stars Are Exhibit A." //NYTimes.com-MTV's 'Teen Mom' Goes to the Classroom//. New York Times, 8 Apr. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

Macatee, Rebecca. "Kim Kardashian Blames 'Teen Mom' for Real Life Teen Pregnancy Epidemic | PopEater.com." //Celebrities | Entertainment News | Celebrity Gossip | Celebrity Photos | PopEater.com//. 19 Jan. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

Reinberg, Steven. "U.S. Teen Birth Rate Hits Record Low." //HealthDay: News for Healthier Living//. 10 Apr. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

Salamon, Maureen. "De-glamorize Teen Pregnancy, Experts Say Consistent Legislative, Parental Support Can Help Keep Teen Birth Rates in Decline." //Msnbc.com - Breaking News, Science and Tech News, World News, US News, Local News- Msnbc.com//. MSNBC, 20 Oct. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

//Teen Mom 2 Cast//. Photograph. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

//Teen Mom Logo//. Photograph. //Maxupdates//. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

//Teen Mom Season 1&2 Cast//. Photograph. //Starcasm//. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .