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Community and Family StudiesIndependent Research Project

TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND THE MEDIA

Does the media portray Teenage Pregnancy realistically?

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ContentsTitle Page...........................................................................................Page 1Contents............................................................................................Abstract.............................................................................................Page 3Acknowledgements ....................................................................... Page 4Introduction...................................................................................... Page 5Literature Review............................................................................. Page 6-9Research Methodologies................................................................Page 10-11Results................................................................................................Page 12-22Analysis and Discussion...................................................................Page 23-24Conclusion........................................................................................PageEvaluation.........................................................................................PageAppendix..........................................................................................PageBibliography..................................................................................... Page

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AbstractFilms and television series have adopted the contemporary issue of teenage pregnancy, due to, as stated by Anna North, a “cultural obsession with teen mothers themselves.1”My report investigates how realistically films and television series portray teenage pregnancy, and how that portrayal affects the general opinion of teenage pregnancy. This report contains evidence of the general public’s opinion of teenage mothers, and the opinion of teenage mothers presented through the media, on shows and films. It also contains the experiences of teenage mothers, and their opinions of teenage mothers presented through the media. By contrasting these opinions, I investigated how closely these opinions relate to each other, in order to evaluate how much impact the media has on the opinions of teenage pregnancy. This information was formed using a variety of both primary and secondary research. I used two separate surveys, one directed to a large group of random individuals, and the second to a number of teenage mothers. I also conducted interviews, with both teenagers who are pregnant, and older individuals who had children in their teenage years. I also conducted interviews with people whose parents were teenage parents. Literature reviews were found on the internet, and in magazines.

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Acknowledgments There are a number of people I would like to acknowledge who have assisted me in the completion of this independent research project:

Thank you to both Mrs Dean and Ms Vis for all their advice and support throughout the project

Thank you to my Community and Family Studies class for all their constant support and commitment to making the class a comfortable learning environment

My interviewees for their time, and brilliant responses. All those who filled out surveys, it hugely assisted me in

understanding the general opinion of teenage pregnancy Thank you to my family, who have been so supportive throughout

the assignment Thank you to Charles O’Neil, for his continuous “You’ll get there”

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IntroductionFilms and television series have adopted the theme of teenage pregnancy, and have become obviously successful. Watching films such as ‘Juno’ and ‘Riding in Cars with Boys’ I find myself questioning how realistic the protagonists’ experiences are. I am acquainted with a number of women who are, or were teenage mothers, so I became inspired to discover how accurately media portray the experiences of teenage mothers. I’m also investigating how this portrayal of teenage pregnancy shapes the opinion of the audience.The topic area my Independent Research Project (IRP) relates to, is Parenting and Caring. Within that topic in the syllabus it relates to age being an influencing factor. My project’s hypothesis is that “The way films and television series portray teenage pregnancy, affects individuals opinions of teenage motherhood and pregnancy.” In order to fully discover the answer to my hypothesis, I must first understand what being a teenage mother is like, and analyse how it’s portrayed in the media. This will help me to discover how truthfully the media presents the issue of teenage pregnancy, so I am able to see how closely the general public’s opinion is based on what’s seen in the media. I took into consideration that many opinions may be based on experience, or knowing someone who was/is a teenage mother. I have worded my questions in surveys and interviews to correctly address this issue.

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Literature ReviewIn my literature review, I researched various films and television shows to gain reviews and statistics regarding its popularity, and it’s content. By doing this, I eliminated a number of films and television series to just a few. These include: ‘Juno’ (2007), ‘Pregnancy Pact’ (2010), ‘Riding in Cars with Boys’ (2001) and ‘Teen Mom’ (2012). I also researched statistics on teenage pregnancy, and personal experiences of teenage mothers. I conducted this research through various magazines, such as ‘Dolly’ and ‘Girlfriend’ and through internet sites.

Teenage PregnancyThe personal experiences of teenage mothers vary depending on their circumstances, such as socioeconomic status, and educational expectation. Dolly magazines contain various stories from young girls, detailing their experiences of their pregnancies. One continuous issue that was presented throughout the stories was the fear of their parent’s reaction. One story in a Dolly ‘reality reads’ states:

“When we told my mum, I just said to her, “Guess what mum, you’re going to be a grandma!” As a mum at 19 too, she wanted to support me.2”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics3 states that in 2009, for every 1000 births, there were 16.7 babies born to women aged 15-19, which was 12,120 births to the 295, 738 recorded that year. The website, Raising Children Network4, has a page dedicated to teenage parents, titled ‘Parenting as a Teenager’. It discussed in detail the challenges, and resources available for teenage mothers. Within the page, there is also a video available that goes into detail about the experiences of several different teenage parents. The video shows the experiences from their point of view, which is beneficial to gaining teenage parents point of views. The profile used on this page, was of a 17 year old girl, Pippa. She had her daughter Bessie, as a single parent due to her boyfriend leaving during the pregnancy. Pippa worked full time throughout the pregnancy, and when her daughter was 3 months old, she returned to work, due to having to support herself as her parents and her weren’t in contact. One quote effectively articulated her experiences with judgements:

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“One of the hardest parts of bringing Bessie up has been dealing with other people being judgemental. I’m aware that at school other parents’ gossip and I know that Bessie suffers from this. I’ve discussed it with her teacher – the bullying and teasing from other kids. Sometimes I worry about how this is affecting her, but I guess all kids get it in some way at some point in their school lives.”

‘Juno’ (2007) According to box office reviews5, Juno was ranked number 9 in 2007 for the category of PG-13 films and number 3 in the all-time most successful film with the theme of pregnancy. Critics have had mixed reactions to the films theme of teenage pregnancy. One critic, from the ‘Problem Chylde’ website6, who was not impressed by the film, titled the review ‘Juno Makes Teenage Pregnancy Absurdly Simple’. One quote from the article states how unrealistic they portrayed the pregnancy:

“And the picture of pregnancy…you’re left to infer which stages she’s reaching. Brief showing of Juno vomiting. Strangely bulbous abdominal area. Ultrasound. Then…DELIVERY! You only get a vague sense that she’s having hormone changes as the plot advances and she freaks out on people. And you only sense the hormone changes through the way she freaks out.......... She eats a lot; yes. Maybe this is a commentary that when a person is pregnant in a media representation, you expect to see more of the physical dramatics emphasized to the nth degree.”

Gloria Feldt, a leading advocate of choices for women and girls, states that the film fails to portray issues of teenage pregnancy in an authentic manner.

“The narrative implies that carrying a pregnancy to term and relinquishing the baby - giving it up for adoption - is nothing. But we know that it isn't so for a pregnant woman. That's totally unrealistic.7”

Not all reviews condemned the films portrayal of teenage pregnancy. A Christian website, ‘Christian Spotlight on Entertainment8, reviewed the film, a stated:

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“This is a well-crafted film of a unique and interesting teenage girl who despite the pressures of teen pregnancy makes a morally correct decision to keep her baby and give it up for adoption based not upon an accident, but an intentional decision (one that I might add, is based upon arguments embraced by the pro-life community)” Spencer Schumacher.

‘Pregnancy Pact’ (2010)Inspired by true events, this film follows an internet blogger who travels to an American High school to investigate a group of girls, as they agree to fall pregnant at the same time. One article stated:

“Although it emphasizes the need for open communication about sex, pregnancy, and the realities of being a young parent, it also depicts some of its teen characters as manipulative and oblivious; there are also scenes of teens drinking and smoking.9”

‘Riding in Cars with Boys’ (2001)Based on a true story, this film contains the theme of teenage pregnancy, with the protagonist ‘Beverly Donofrio’ having her dreams of becoming a writer crushed when she falls pregnant at the age of 15.

Nell Minow, stated in his review of Riding in Cars with Boys that: “Like the life of its subject matter, there is a lot that is wrong with

this movie, but there is also something right enough for a bittersweet happy ending. This is not an upbeat story with a lot of cute sit-com-y moments. Bev is not a good mother. She is so angry at Ray, her son Jason, and her parents that her behaviour is often selfish and bitter. If an actress less irresistible than Barrymore were in the role, we would stop caring whether she ever got to college.10”

This is the general reaction I have found to the film. Many reviews congratulate the film on presenting the issue of teenage pregnancy in a realistic manner, and not just showing the ‘glory’ of pregnancy.

‘Teen Mom’ (2012) Teen Mom is a ‘spinoff’ series to ’16 and Pregnant’, also produced by MTV. Teen Mom follows four of the original teenagers from ’16 and pregnant’; Maci, Farrah, Amber and Catelynn after the child’s birth. The finale of season one had 3.6 million viewers11, which caused this television series to stir up many reviews, with the main characters become famous.

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Reviews of the television series are both positive and negative. Melissa Camacho wrote:

“Unlike 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom offers an unglamorous and often uncomfortable look into the lives of teen parents in order to underscore what life can really be like when you have a child at such a young age. It also highlights some of the inner struggles the young women face -- from negotiating their role as a mother and a “typical” teenager to coping with the loneliness and isolation they feel when they can no longer socialize as they did before they got pregnant.12”Ellen Pober Rittbery, author of 35 Things Your Teen Wont Tell You So I Will says that the popularity given to the teenage mothers on ‘Teen Mom’ is a bad thing.

“Putting these teen moms on magazine covers is a bad thing. Glammed up in fine clothing, the best makeup, good lighting and child in hand like some adorable ornament, these moms send the message that having a baby may lead to fame. How many young people striving to be famous will join a legion of girls who want to do what it takes to be plucked from obscurity and given fame, money, and a television series13.”A pole on the website ‘sheknows14’ asks its readers ‘Do shows like Teen Mom glamorize teenage motherhood?’ 62% (100 votes) stated ‘Yes’, 32% (52 votes) stated ‘No’ and 6% (9 votes) stated ‘I don’t have an opinion’.

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MethodologyPrimary ResearchThe primary research in my IRP was collected by conducting two surveys (appendix1) and a few interviews (appendix2). The survey contained 10 questions, varying from identity questions such as age, sex, and location, to questions about whether they have seen the films/television shows mentioned in this report, and their opinion of the mothers on the shows. I asked them ‘what’s an appropriate age for women to start having children’, and their ‘general opinion of teenage mothers’. This was created using multiple choice questions and short answer questions. My second survey I conducted was aimed at women who were/are teenage mothers. These questions were based around gaining an insight into their opinions of how teenage mothers are portrayed, and to gain some understanding of their experiences of their pregnancy. I conducted my surveys very differently to others. I created mine using an online site, called ‘SurveyMonkey’ and gave people the link to fill it out there. This lessened the amount of time it took to review the answers, and the amount of time to get the results back. It was also much quicker and easier for the people who filled out the survey, which was a factor to take into account when surveying teenage mothers. I kept my surveys anonymous, to allow the people being surveyed to feel comfortable enough to give honest answers. I also ensured that my questions were very straight forward, and didn’t contain any bias. I conducted four interviews. The first interview was with a woman who had her first child 17 years ago, when she was 17 years old herself. Interviewing this woman was effective as she is able to recall on her experiences as facts, and to articulate what happened, and why it happened effectively. The second interview I conducted was with a friend who only recently moved to the area. She came from a large school, to which she had a friend who had a ‘pregnancy scare’. My third interview was with a 17 year old girl who is pregnant with her first child. This interview was important as it gave a modern look of the issues she is facing. My last interview was with a young man whose mother had him at the age of 18. For each interview I had to change some questions due to the context of the interview. I ensured my interviewees that they will remain anonymous, to ensure they felt comfortable enough to share some honest

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answers. Each interview contained around 7 questions, although some questions contained a number of parts, depending on their answers. The questions about how the media portrays teenage pregnancy remained relatively consistent throughout the interviews, in order for me to be able to compare opinions. I kept the questions straight-forward and easily understood.

Secondary ResearchTo gather the relevant data on teenage pregnancy, and the way the media portrays this issue, I had to collect data on the various films and television series containing the theme. I mostly used in the internet to find movie reviews and box office reviews of the films and television series. The most affective websites to find the reviews include: ‘www.imdb.com’, ‘www.rottentomatoes.com’ and ‘www.boxofficemojo.com’. I searched though my collection of teenage girl’s magazines, such as ‘Dolly’ and ‘Girlfriend’ to find personal experience stories about teenage pregnancy. I also used the Australian Bureau of Statistics website to discover the rates of teenage pregnancy within Australia. The search engine ‘Google’ led me to various website articles; some in particular were very informative, such as:

- ‘Teen pregnancies linked to TV’ written by ‘AP’ on ‘The Age’ webpage15

- ‘Does Watching Sex on Television Predict Teen Pregnancy? Findings from a National Longitudinal Survey of Youth’ on the ‘Pediatrics’ website16.

- ‘Teen Pregnancy Rates Rising on TV, Real Life’ by Anna North, on the ‘Jezebel’ website1.

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Findings and ResultsMy first survey that I conducted had 36 responses, 26 responses from females and 10 responses from males. The age varied 15 to older than 35. The results were as follows:

The largest age group of participants of the survey were in their teenage years. It is important to gain the opinions of teenagers about others in their age group, as they will be able to effectively communicate about their own peer group.

An understanding of the percentage of participant’s location was necessary, as opinions may vary depending on the population of where they live. An individual exposed to the issue of teenage pregnancy, can possess more informed opinions then those in rural areas, with minimal experience with the issue. The results show that the majority of the results came from around the Molong Area, which is Rural. The remaining results are spread throughout the various remaining locations, which will provide a variation of results. One of the main factors that influence an individual’s opinion of teenage pregnancy is if they know someone who is/was a teenage mother. When asked the question, ‘Do you know of someone under the age of 18, who’s had a child?’ 82.4% said yes, and 17.6% said no. That means that 28 of the 34 individuals who answered this question knew someone personally that has had a child in their teenage years. That means that the majority of the participants possessed a more informed opinion about teenage pregnancy.

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The question: ‘Do you believe it’s appropriate for teenager to be having children?’ gave the following results:

The results for ‘other’ include:

These results show a large variation of opinions. Most of the extended responses contain the idea that it depends on the maturity and situation of the teenage in question.

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I questioned the participants about various films they may have seen, featuring the theme of teenage pregnancy. I listed three films-Juno (2007),

Fifteen and Pregnant (1998) and For Keeps? (1988). I also gave the option to add any films that were not listed. The results are as followed in the bar graph. Due to the fact that not many individuals had seen the films ‘Fifteen and Pregnant’ and ‘For keeps?’ I decided not to follow through with these two. Three films that were suggested are: ’16 and Pregnant’, ‘Pregnancy Pact’ and ‘Riding in Cars with Boys’. After researching these films, I decided to use Pregnancy Pact and Riding in Cars with Boys, due to the fact that I verbally asked a number of people if they had seen these films, to which they stated that they had.

When asked ‘Do you believe films portray teenage mothers in a positive or negative sense?’, 17.1% of answers said ‘positive’, 28.6% of answers said ‘negative’ and 54.3% of responses said ‘Neither/Varies’. This reflects

the question of ‘Do you believe it is approperiate for teenagers to be having children?’ as it appears that it depends on the situtation.

I asked my participants if they had seen the television series ‘Teen Mom’. The response is as follows on the bar graph to the left.

Just over half of the respondents had seen the television series.

When asked about their opinion of the

mothers on the show, there was various responses, some

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more serious than others. There were 24 responses to this question, and they were as follows:

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My final was about the respondent’s opinion on what’s an appropriate age to begin having children. The question regarding this is “What age group do you believe is appropriate to start having children?” to which I then listed various age groups that the responder was to choose one. The

results are presented in the pie chart.

The results show that the majority of people believe that it is appropriate for people to start having children is in their early 20’s. The second most chosen answer was in the late

20’s.

The second survey I conducted was directed towards teenage mothers only. It contained some simular questions as the first one, but also some completely different questions regarding their pregnancy, and their experiences. I had three teenage mothers willing to do the survey.

The first question I asked was how old they are today. One participant was aged between 16 to 18, and two others were between the ages of 19 to 21, but all three fell pregnant between the ages of 14 to 16.

The next question I asked, was ‘Did the father of your child support you through your pregnancy?’ I asked this question due to the fact that many films depict teenage mothers to be single parents. One participant said ‘yes’ one said ‘no’ and the last one chose ‘other’. Her response is as follows:

I then directed my questions towards the way teenage pregnancy is depicted in the media. My first questions was: ‘Have you seen any of the following films?’ I then listed three answers, ‘Juno (2007)’, ‘Fifteen and Pregnant (1998)’ and ‘For Keeps? (1988)’. All the girls stated that they had seen ‘Juno’, and two stated that they had also seen ‘Fifteen and Pregnant’. None of them had seen ‘For Keeps?’.

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I then asked them ‘Do you believe that these films portray teen mothers in a positive or negative sense?’. One of my participants stated ‘positive’ and two stated ‘neither/Varies’. The following question asked ‘Have you watched the television series Teen Mom (2009-2012)?’ All three girls stated that they had seen the television series. The next question asked about their opinion of the mothers on the show. The responses are as follow:

I then asked my participants ‘What’s your opinion on teen mothers in general?’ The responses are as follow:

The last question was ‘Do you believe that the media portrays a positive or negative opinion about teen pregnancy?’ Two responses said ‘Yes’ and one said ‘no’.

I conducted four interviews over the duration of this report. My first interview was with a friend’s mother, who had her first child at the age of 17. This interview went into detail about her experiences, and her opinion about how teenage pregnancy is portrayed through the media. My second interview was with a friend of mine, who had a friend who had a pregnancy scare. This interview went into detail about how it changed her friend’s life. My third interview was with a childhood friend who is currently pregnant with her first child at the age of 17. My last interview was with a young man whose mother had him during her teenage years. Each interview’s questions vary, depending on the interviewee’s circumstances, and the context of the intended questions. The results from the interviews are as follows:

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Interview Number 1What age did you have your first child?17How did your parents react when you told them?Mum freaked, Dad was upset. Within a couple of weeks though mum was knitting bootiesDid you find that your friends treated you differently when they found out?I lost many friends, but I had my son, and he was all that I neededHave you seen the film ‘Juno’?Yes

Do you think the main character ‘Juno’ handled the pregnancy realistically?

Not really, but then that is only compared to my experienceWhat do you believe was unrealistic?

She was really not as stressed as i was and i don't feel it was taken seriously, I mean it was more comedy I felt.Have you watched any of the following films: 15 and Pregnant, Riding in cars with Boys or Pregnancy Pact?

Yep, pregnancy pact was terrible, those girls were stupid, you don't plan this stuff. I loved Riding in cars with boys, no parent knows what to expect no matter what age, wish I'd had a friend going through it with me though, it is scary and sad when your friends jump ship!

(In regards to Riding in cars with Boys) And i always pictured my road trip with Curtis to meet his father would end pretty much like thatHave you watched the TV series ‘Teen Mom’?

No, i watched a little part of one episode and turned it off, i didn't want the kids watching it.Have you ever been the victim of insults or bulling because of your pregnancy?

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No, but then, I lived in a very small village with no shops and i don't remember anybody being rude to me when I went out, I think I was my biggest critic

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Interview Number 2Do you know of anyone who’s had a child in their teenage years?No, but I had a friend who had a pregnancy scare. What’s your opinion on teenage pregnancy?Anybody who isn’t at least 20 should not have a baby, because lots of them can hardly support themselves let alone a baby, but the thing I dislike the most is when a teenage girl wants a baby to get money off the government like what a friend of mine was trying to do. Now she had dropped school and works at Kmart and has drop kick boyfriends.Have you seen the film ‘Juno’?Yeah I’ve seen the film.What’s your opinion of how Juno handled her pregnancy?Well, she did the smart thing by giving the baby to someone who can take care of it, and I guess she did the right thing not getting an abortion even though it might of made her life easier. Have you seen or heard of the television series ‘Teen Mom’?Yes, I have heard and seen it. Apparently its one of the most popular reality shows on tv. What’s your opinion of the mothers on the show?Well they’re stupid to get pregnant but I think they’re stupider when they think ‘oh yeah it’s just a kid, I’ll be partying with my friends in no time’, and most of them complain about their life and its like dahhh then don’t get pregnant. But apparently some teens are actually influenced from this show to have a baby themselves just to go on the show and get the perks they have. Do you think that the media has influenced people’s opinions about teenage pregnancy?Yes, they have greatly because none knew how great a number of pregnancies happened within teen years, and some are fully against it or others believe it the right thing.

Interview Number 3PAGE|20


Did you find your friends treated you differently when they found out you were pregnant?Most of my friends have stopped talking to me. Some still talk to me but most just don’t want anything to do with meHave you seen the film Juno?Yep, I love itDo you think the main character ‘Juno’ handled the pregnancy realistically?Yes she did. She knew she wasn’t ready to be a mum, but unlike some, she did a selfless thing to give her child away. Personally that showed maturity way beyond her age. I couldn’t do it. Have you seen any of the films: 15 and Pregnant, Riding in Cars with Boys, or Pregnancy Pact?None SorryHave you seen or heard of the tv series ‘Teen Mom?’Yes I’ve seen itWhat’s your opinion of the mothers on the show?Personally I have different opinions on different people on the show, and I haven’t watched it in a while, but overall I think they’re brave, but some really needed to face reality and step up to motherhood. Have you ever been the victim of insults or bulling due to your pregnancy?No not really. I have been ridiculed because of the way I was brought up, but that may be about it, and some unhealthy choices I have made during pregnancy.

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Interview Number 4Do you know what age your mother fell pregnant with you?Yes, at the age of 17. She had me at the age of 18.Have you ever felt disadvantaged by the fact your mother was a teenage mother?No. When I was younger, I didn't comprehend that she was any different to other mothers. Do you believe there are advantages to having a younger mother?No. I do believe there are advantages or disadvantages. The only real factor that I take into consideration is the individual’s maturity. Have you seen the film ‘Riding in Cars with Boys?’Yes. In regards to the son in the film, Jason, do you believe his experiences were realistic?Yes. You hear stories about young people who have been taken away by Child Protected Services, due to the fact that they are the more mature one of the relationship. Drugs and violence are realistic possibilities to any relationship, but especially teenage parents due to their level of maturity.What’s your opinion on teenage mothers?Depending on their level of maturity, some teenage mothers are able to support and raise a child. Because of the way films only focus on the age factor, rather than the maturity of the person, and because they generally use ‘bimbo’s’, they usually style a person not capable of raising a child, whereas it’s not only the case. A friends family member for example, is highly successful with her own home, university degree and is engaged to get married, even though she had her first child at the age of 16. My mother, on the other hand, is unemployed, lives in rental properties, and was dependant on her own mother to help raise me for the first 12 years of my life. This is why I have high regard for my Nan, as her and I have a better bond than my mother and me. Do you believe the media, such as films and television, portrays teen pregnancy in a positive or negative way? Or does the media portray it how it is?Because of the variation of the portrayal of teenage mothers, I will have to say that it is portrayed how it is. Some teenage mothers are unable to put their child’s best interest first, which affects the child in the long run, both

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mentally and physically, because they are trying to live their own life, rather than stepping up to the plate of being a mother.

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Hypothesis: The way films and television series portray teenage pregnancy, affects individuals opinions of teenage motherhood and pregnancy.The opinion of teenage pregnancy varied from person to person, but there were some common views made about the issue. Through the use of my surveys, I discovered that 66.7% of respondents think that having a child in your teenage years isn’t appropriate, and 82.4% of respondents knew someone under the age of 18 who’s had a child. This suggests that the majority respondents understand the struggles of teenage pregnancy, and believe that it isn’t appropriate. My forth interviewee stated that he believes the media portrays teenage pregnancy how it is, as “of the variation of the portrayal of teenage mothers, I will have to say that it is portrayed how it is”Throughout my report, I investigated various films and television shows that contain the theme of teenage pregnancy. When finding opinions on reviews about these films/television shows, there were consistent opinions presented through both my literature reviews, and my primary research, regarding each film/television series. They are as follows:Juno- The main characters pregnancy was unrealistic, due to the lack of regard to the struggles of pregnancy. It was portrayed throughout the film that she was losing her friends, as most teenage mothers do. Most critics and individuals agreed that even though the pregnancy wasn’t portrays realistically, ‘Juno’s decisions to give the baby up for adoption was very mature but was presented too ‘light heartedly’. Through looking at the experiences of teenage mothers, it becomes clear that Juno’s experiences weren’t completely realistic, but were presented to the audience in a comical way. Pregnancy Pact- Even though the film contains the theme of teenage pregnancy, it is presented in a completely different way than most teenage pregnancy films. It emphasises the negatives to the situation of teenage pregnancy, by presenting the teenage characters as though they don’t fully understand the situation. Although it was based on true events that have occurred, my first interviewee stated that “pregnancy pact was terrible, those girls were stupid, you don't plan this stuff”. This shows the extreme nature of the events that had occurred. Most critics and reviews agreed that the events were unbelievable, due to the teenagers’ maturity in choosing to be teenage parents. Riding in Cars with Boys-Throughout my research, I discovered that this film is regarded as containing the most realistic views on Teenage Pregnancy. It doesn’t ‘glam’ it up; it shows both the negative and positive

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side to having a child in your teenage years. My first interviewee stated: “no parent knows what to expect no matter what age”, she then continued to emphasise with the main character. This is evidence of the realistic manner in which the film has portrayed teenage pregnancy. Teen Mom-As this is a television series, it was seen, or at least heard of, by over half of my survey respondents and interviewee’s due to the easy access of television. This series stirred up a lot of controversy, and mixed opinions about the show. In my survey, when I asked the respondents their opinion about the mothers on the show, it was evenly divided between the mothers portraying a realistic look on teenage pregnancy; the mother’s being irresponsible mothers, and a neutral response (usually stating that it varies depending on the mother in question). The survey that I conducted towards teenage mothers, the same question was asked. As they have been through, or are going through, their own teenage pregnancy, I found their answers to be more effectively useful as their opinion would be purely on their own experiences. Their answers included: “Their just acting because pregnancy and having a baby is nothing like they make out to be”, “Sometimes I think they only get pregnant to go on the show” and “I think they are doing their best and not always the right thing, but always thinking about what they think is right for them and their child”. This suggests that a teenage mother’s experiences vary depending on how they handle the situation.

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Summary and ConclusionThe general opinion of teenage pregnancy varies depending on how contact they have had with teenage pregnancy. Teenage mothers naturally have a more informed opinion of teenage pregnancy, as they have experienced it firsthand. The opinion presented through the media about teenage pregnancy varies depending on the context. ‘Juno’ presents the opinion that teenage pregnancy is a difficult experience, and that there are options for those not ready to become parents. This is presented unrealistically due to the lack of attention to the effects of pregnancy on the mother, and the opinion that there is no emotional scaring left after the main character relinquishes the baby. ‘Pregnancy Pact’ and ‘Riding in Cars with Boys’ are both based/inspired by true events, which adds a realistic value to the protagonist’s experiences. ‘Pregnancy Pact’ shows a shocking side to the psyche of a handful of high school girls, as they make a pact to fall pregnant at the same time. The teenagers in this film fantasise about the positives of having a child in their teenage years, completely ignoring the negative side that they will soon be facing. This concept contains some truth about it, as it is a common opinion stated by my interviewees and survey participants that teenagers don’t fully understand what they are getting themselves into when they fall pregnant. ‘Riding in Cars with Boys’ on the other hand, effectively articulates the struggles teenage parents will face, as the main character attempts to adjust her life to being a mother, and to comprehend that she has to put her son first, over her dreams of becoming a writer. I discovered that the struggles were very real; as my first interviewee was able relate her experiences with the main characters. Although ‘Teen Mom’ stirs up a lot of controversy, it presents an unglorified view on the struggles of being a teenage mother. It is a common opinion that they emphasise the struggles presented, in order to gain a large audience. This opinion is present in through my second survey, and through my interviews. Most commonly, the responses to the show vary depending on what mother they are referring to. This shows that the situation that the mother creates for herself, and the environment they are in, depicts the opinion presented about them. Overall, my hypothesis wasn’t completely wrong. The hypothesis being: ‘The way films and television series portray teenage pregnancy, affects individuals opinions of teenage motherhood and pregnancy’. The media

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does have an impact to the opinions of teenage pregnancy, but it doesn’t create the opinion. Factors such as an individual’s experiences with teenage pregnancy and their exposure to the issue vary an individual’s opinion. Many teenage mothers show a level of maturity beyond their years, which is why, most of the time, the opinion of teenage pregnancy are based on the mother in question. The media presents a number of different aspects to teenage pregnancy. Some films and television series present a highly realistic view on the struggles of teenage pregnancy, with such examples as ‘Riding in Cars with Boys’ and ‘Teen Mom’. This is because they are based/inspired from true stories. Other films/television shows present an unrealistic view of teenage pregnancy, as they use an unbelievable and often immature protagonist. This opinion is evident in my last interview. An example of this is in ‘Pregnancy Pact’. Because of these factors, it is unable to be stated that the media creates the opinion of teenage pregnancy and motherhood, as the media portrays the issue in various ways. I am also unable to state that individual’s opinions of teenage pregnancy is created through the media, due to the fact that there are a number of ways to which an opinion of teenage pregnancy can be determined.

Recommendation PAGE|27


The aim of this research project was to understand the connections between the ways the media portrays teenage pregnancy, and the opinions individuals possess about teenage pregnancy. If I were approached by a student intending to carry out a similar report, there are a number of recommendations I would give to them. -Focus on the hypothesis of the report. Becoming side-tracked by extending your research can make you lose focus of what you’re intending to achieve through the report. -Eliminate bias within your literature research by treating it like a debate. Present more than one opinion, from both positive and negative aspects. -Ensure that you word your questions for your interviews simply, to eliminate bias and to better the interviewees understanding of the questions purpose. Within my research, I discovered a number of recommendations made towards teenage parents, to help them and their child. These recommendations include:-If possible, finish school, as in the long run, having an education will better your chances of gaining employment.-Staying with your parents while you and your child are young will increase your ability to deal with issues and pressures of raising a child, as you have a close support network.-If living with parents is unable to happen, seek financial support from Centrelink to assist you in various payments such as rent and living expenses. -Expanding your support network, by accessing mother groups, counselling services and community health services, will increase your ability to cope with struggles you may face as a teenage parents.

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Reference/Bibliography List1 ‘Teen Pregnancy Rates Rising On Tv, Real Life’ written by Anna North, January 26th, 2010 at 9:30 am. Available at the Jezebel website: http://jezebel.com/teen-pregnancy-increase2 ‘My Pregnancy Test Showed Positive’ written by Nikita (anonymous), Tuesday January 21, 2012. Available at the Dolly website: http://dolly.ninemsn.com.au/girltalk/realityreads/8411478/my-pregnancy-test-showed-positive or in the January, 2012 issue of Dolly, in the ‘realityreads’ section3Australian Bureau of Statistics, ‘Births, Australia 2009’, Cat. No. 3301.0 released 03/11/2010 at 11:30 am. Available at the Australian Bureau of Statistics website: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Products/5ECFE0F9C48A6228CA2577CF000DF061?opendocument4 ‘Parenting as a Teenager’ last reviewed 12/03/2012. Available at the ‘raising children network’ website: http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/parenting_as_a_teenager.html5 ‘Genres-Pregnancy’ last updated 09/03/2013. Available at the ‘Box Office Mojo’ website: http://boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=pregnancy.htm 6 ‘Juno Makes Teen Pregnancy Absurdly Simple’ written by ‘Problem Chylde’ January 2nd, 2008. Available at the ‘Problem Chylde’ website: http://problemchylde.wordpress.com/?s=Juno7 ‘What “Juno” Says About Teen Pregnancy, Abortion and Choice’ written by Linda Lowen, updated February 25, 2008. Available at the about.com website, in the ‘Women’s Issues’ section: http://womensissues.about.com/od/teenpregnancy/a/JunoAntiChoice.htm8 ‘Juno’ written by Spencer Schumacher, last updated January 12th, 2008. Available from the Christian Spotlight on Entertainment website: http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2007/juno2007.html9 ‘The Pregnancy Pact’ written by Melissa Camacho, January 22, 2010. Available from the ‘commonsense media’ website: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-pregnancy-pact10 ‘Riding in Cars with Boys’ written by Nell Minow, May 18, 2003. Available from the ‘commonsense media’ website: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/riding-in-cars-with-boys

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http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/riding-in-cars-with-boys

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/riding-in-cars-with-boys

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-pregnancy-pact

http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2007/juno2007.html

http://womensissues.about.com/od/teenpregnancy/a/JunoAntiChoice.htm

http://problemchylde.wordpress.com/?s=Juno


11 ‘Teen Mom’ written by Melissa Camacho, 2012. Available from the ‘commonsense media’ website: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/teen-mom12 ‘Teen Mom’ written by Melissa Camacho, 2012. Available from the ‘commonsense media’ website: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/teen-mom13 ‘Are we glamorizing teen moms?’ written by Mary Fetzer, October 26, 2010 8:47 am. Available from the ‘She Knows’ Parenting’ website: http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/819328/Are-we-glamorizing-teen-moms14 ‘Are we glamorizing teen moms?’ written by Mary Fetzer, October 26, 2010 8:47 am. Available from the ‘She Knows’ Parenting’ website: http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/819328/Are-we-glamorizing-teen-moms15’Teen pregnancies linked to TV’, written by ‘AP’, November 5th, 2008. Available from ‘The Age’ website: http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life/teen-pregnancies-linked-to-tv-20090407-9yrb.html16 ‘Does Watching Sex on Television Predict Teen Pregnancy? Findings From a National Longitudinal Survey’, written, and conducted by Anita Chandra, Steven C. Martino, Rebecca L. Collins, Marc N. Elliott, Sandra H. Berry, David E. Kanouse, and Angela Miu, November 2008. Available at the ‘Pediatrics’ website: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/122/5/1047.abstract

Additional:Dolly Magazine, January 2012.

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http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/122/5/1047.abstract

http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life/teen-pregnancies-linked-to-tv-20090407-9yrb.html

http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life/teen-pregnancies-linked-to-tv-20090407-9yrb.html

http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/819328/Are-we-glamorizing-teen-moms




http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/teen-mom





Appendix1. Survey One:

2. Survey Two:

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Interview One: What age did you have your first child?

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17How did your parents react when you told them?Mum freaked, Dad was upset. Within a couple of weeks though mum was knitting bootiesDid you find that your friends treated you differently when they found out?I lost many friends, but I had my son, and he was all that I neededHave you seen the film ‘Juno’?If yes:

Do you think the main character ‘Juno’ handled the pregnancy realistically?

Not really, but then that is only compared to my experienceWhat do you believe was unrealistic?

She was really not as stressed as i was and i don't feel it was taken seriously, I mean it was more comedy I felt.Have you watched any of the following films: 15 and Pregnant, Riding in cars with Boys or Pregnancy Pact?

Yep, pregnancy pact was terrible, those girls were stupid, you don't plan this stuff. I loved Riding in cars with boys, no parent knows what to expect no matter what age, wish I'd had a friend going through it with me though, it is scary and sad when your friends jump ship!

(In regards to Riding in cars with Boys) And i always pictured my road trip with Curtis to meet his father would end pretty much like thatHave you watched the TV series ‘Teen Mom’?

No, i watched a little part of one episode and turned it off, i didn't want the kids watching it.

Have you ever been the victim of insults or bulling because of your pregnancy?

No, but then, I lived in a very small village with no shops and i don't remember anybody being rude to me when I went out, I think I was my biggest critic

Interview Two:Do you know of anyone who’s had a child in their teenage years?

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No, but I had a friend who had a pregnancy scare. What’s your opinion on teenage pregnancy?Anybody who isn’t at least 20 should not have a baby, because lots of them can hardly support themselves let alone a baby, but the thing I dislike the most is when a teenage girl wants a baby to get money off the government like what a friend of mine was trying to do. Now she had dropped school and works at Kmart and has drop kick boyfriends.Have you seen the film ‘Juno’?Yeah I’ve seen the film.What’s your opinion of how Juno handled her pregnancy?Well, she did the smart thing by giving the baby to someone who can take care of it, and I guess she did the right thing not getting an abortion even though it might of made her life easier. Have you seen or heard of the television series ‘Teen Mom’?Yes, I have heard and seen it. Apparently its one of the most popular reality shows on tv. What’s your opinion of the mothers on the show?Well they’re stupid to get pregnant but I think they’re stupider when they think ‘oh yeah it’s just a kid, I’ll be partying with my friends in no time’, and most of them complain about their life and its like dahhh then don’t get pregnant. But apparently some teens are actually influenced from this show to have a baby themselves just to go on the show and get the perks they have. Do you think that the media has influenced people’s opinions about teenage pregnancy?Yes, they have greatly because none knew how great a number of pregnancies happened within teen years, and some are fully against it or others believe it the right thing.

Interview Three:Did you find your friends treated you differently when they found out you were pregnant?

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Most of my friends have stopped talking to me. Some still talk to me but most just don’t want anything to do with meHave you seen the film Juno?Yep, I love itDo you think the main character ‘Juno’ handled the pregnancy realistically?Yes she did. She knew she wasn’t ready to be a mum, but unlike some, she did a selfless thing to give her child away. Personally that showed maturity way beyond her age. I couldn’t do it. Have you seen any of the films: 15 and Pregnant, Riding in Cars with Boys, or Pregnancy Pact?None SorryHave you seen or heard of the tv series ‘Teen Mom?’Yes I’ve seen itWhat’s your opinion of the mothers on the show?Personally I have different opinions on different people on the show, and I haven’t watched it in a while, but overall I think they’re brave, but some really needed to face reality and step up to motherhood. Have you ever been the victim of insults or bulling due to your pregnancy?No not really. I have been ridiculed because of the way I was brought up, but that may be about it, and some unhealthy choices I have made during pregnancy.

Interview Four:Do you know what age your mother fell pregnant with you?Yes, at the age of 17. She had me at the age of 18.

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Have you ever felt disadvantaged by the fact your mother was a teenage mother?No. When I was younger, I didn't comprehend that she was any different to other mothers. Do you believe there are advantages to having a younger mother?No. I do believe there are advantages or disadvantages. The only real factor that I take into consideration is the individual’s maturity. Have you seen the film ‘Riding in Cars with Boys?’Yes. In regards to the son in the film, Jason, do you believe his experiences were realistic?Yes. You hear stories about young people who have been taken away by Child Protected Services, due to the fact that they are the more mature one of the relationship. Drugs and violence are realistic possibilities to any relationship, but especially teenage parents due to their level of maturity.What’s your opinion on teenage mothers?Depending on their level of maturity, some teenage mothers are able to support and raise a child. Because of the way films only focus on the age factor, rather than the maturity of the person, and because they generally use ‘bimbo’s’, they usually style a person not capable of raising a child, whereas it’s not only the case. A friends family member for example, is highly successful with her own home, university degree and is engaged to get married, even though she had her first child at the age of 16. My mother, on the other hand, is unemployed, lives in rental properties, and was dependant on her own mother to help raise me for the first 12 years of my life. This is why I have high regard for my Nan, as her and I have a better bond than my mother and me. Do you believe the media, such as films and television, portrays teen pregnancy in a positive or negative way? Or does the media portray it how it is?Because of the variation of the portrayal of teenage mothers, I will have to say that it is portrayed how it is. Some teenage mothers are unable to put their child’s best interest first, which affects the child in the long run, both mentally and physically, because they are trying to live their own life, rather than stepping up to the plate of being a mother.

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