Teenage Pregnancy and the Media's Influence on Today's Youth

In today’s society, teen pregnancy has become an issue. If you step foot into a local high school, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a pregnant student. In fact, if you asked a student if they have a friend who is expecting or has already given birth, the answer would most likely be a yes. It seems to be that any form of contraception isn’t a priority for young girls today.As the rate of teenage pregnancy rises, it seems to me that the attitude about it is more relaxed and, sadly, it is seen as desirable. Is teenage pregnancy a trend? Although young girls may learn from seeing the struggles of teenage pregnancy, which may prevent them from becoming pregnant themselves, I believe some young girls are influenced by seeing their peers having children because it seems that it is now more acceptable and glamorized in today’s media.Early in our culture, especially in the 1950s, it was common for teen girls to graduate and marry their high school sweethearts and have children young. Now, in the present day, women are more independent; most attend college after graduating, and some balance raising a family while holding powerful positions in their chosen career. So why would young teens choose to get pregnant when they have the world at their fingertips? It’s almost like taking a step backward. “The three biggest reasons I see behind purposeful teenage pregnancies are to get their guy to stay, to have someone to love them unconditionally, and to create a purpose in their lives.Another media outlet influencing teens is reality television. Reality television has become popular over the past few years, especially the MTV hit 16 and Pregnant. The show follows young expecting mothers and the struggles they face. It’s a pretty real look into how unglamorous it is, not the fairy tale it is often mistaken for. Honestly what more is there to say, this issue has increased worldwide and it is constantly being brought up especially in the US. Maybe the media today should stop "glamorizing" as we speak and start bringing out the real facts maybe then they will think before they act.

Is this what you expected of your next "crib"?