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Medias Influence on Teen Pregnancy Rates

Breian Raphael

Mrs.Jones English 4 a4 March 27, 2014

Outline THESIS: Based on teen pregnancy statistics, studies showing links between teen pregnancy and sexualized content on television, and shows such as 16

Raphael2 and Pregnant indicates that media is affecting teen birth rates in a positive way. I. America statistics on teen and adolescent media use A. Washington.edu shows statistics of how much television and internet teens consume on a daily basis. B. Teens opinion on teen reality shows II. The Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood: In History and Society gives history of teen pregnancy. A. Teen Pregnancy statistics throughout history III. The Influence of Media on teen pregnancy rates A. A summary of teen pregnancy reality shows and the teens on them B. The sexual content on television and its effects on teen pregnancy C. The glamorization of teen pregnancy on reality television. D. The facts that show that teen pregnancy is hard and not glamorous. IV. What parents of teens can do to help with teen pregnancy rates A. Parents are advised to talk to their teens about sex V. What teens can do to prevent themselves from getting pregnant A. Talking to their parents about sex and protection B. Communicate with your partner about sex before it happens.
Media Influences on Teen Pregnancy Rates

I didnt think that it could happen to me!, the teen girl cries out to the doctor.This was at one time voiced by thousands of pregnant teens around America but in recent

Raphael3 years statistics have shown a decline in teen pregnancy rates leaving many to wonder the cause. Some studies show that what teens hear and see in the media has a direct connection to the decline. Reality T.V. is television programming in which everyday people are followed in real life situations. In 2010, the National Bureau of Economic Research, shows that teen pregnancy reality shows cut the teen birth rate by six percent. Based on teen pregnancy statistics, studies show that their are links between teen pregnancy and sexual content on television. Television programs such as 16 and pregnant show that media is effecting teen birth rates in a positive way. Teens TV USE Some may ask, well how much media are teens watching? The average American teen watches about 20 hours of television a week. By age 18, a teenager will have watched 350,000 commercials. ("teen health and the media") New data from a worldwide survey done by The National Campaign asked teens their opinions on media and teenage pregnancy reality shows. Six in ten teens have watched at least some of 16 and pregnant. Among those teens who have viewed the show, eighty-two percent feel that the show helps teens understand the challenges of teen pregnancy, compared to fifteen percent who think that it glamorizes teen pregnancy. Sixty-seven percent of teen boys and seventy-nine percent of teen girls agree with the statement when a TV show or character a teen likes deals with teen pregnancy, it makes them think about their own risk of becoming pregnant/ causing a pregnancy and how to avoid it.(Suellentrop, K.etc (2010). Teen Pregnancy History

Raphael4 It is almost impossible to obtain a detailed measure of teen pregnancy rates over history because not all pregnancies result in births. From Colonial times to the nineteenth century, many American women were pressured to have kids by their mid twenties because of social influence but few worried about teen pregnancy as long as they were married. The capability to bear children generally established the move from childhood to adulthood for females. The combination of biological, social and economic factors limited teen pregnancy and parenthood, however, the 1900s saw improvement in teen health and education. Because of this, by 1960, nearly one third of single American females had their first child before reaching twenty (Fass ). Approximately four in ten girls get pregnant at least once in their teens. Twenty percent of teen births are repeat pregnancies and approximately eighteen percent of black teens, fourteen percent of hispanics and seven percent of whites are teen moms. Twenty percent of all teen pregnancies and forty four percent of births among fifteen to nineteen year olds were unintended. Globally, teenage women are less likely to give birth than their counterparts twenty years ago, but the rates are still too high and many of these pregnancies are undesired. According to researchers Kathryn Kost and Stanley Henshaw at Guttmacher Institute, in 2012, the rates of teen pregnancy, births and abortions had fallen to the lowest point in nearly forty years. Influences of TV on Teen Pregnancy

Raphael5 What influence does tv have on teen pregnancy? There has been an increase in the number of reality shows about the controversial subject of teen pregnancy. Each episode of 16 and Pregnant follows a 5-7 month time span in the life of a pregnant teenager as she navigates the tough terrain of childhood, growing pains, rebellion against authority and becoming an adult. Each story offers a harsh look into the wide variety of challenges pregnant teens face: marriage, adoption, gossip, finances, rumors among the community, graduating high school and gaining employment. Confronted with the adult decisions of parenthood, these girls are forced to sacrifice their teenage years and their high school experiences. But there is hope among them. They have motivation to make their lives work, and to do the best to provide for their babies. A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research evidently show that the the show 16 and Pregnant cut the teen birth rate by six percent or more than twenty thousand births in 2010. However, some studies show that television is actually contributing to teen pregnancy. According to a study prepared for the Kaiser Family Foundation, fifty hours of programming studied included 100 acts of sexual intercourse and only five references within three episodes to contraception. The only mention of HIV and Aids in the episodes referred to contraction through IV drug use. Two years ago, about three percent of all characters involved in intercourse were teens; today that figure has jumped to nine percent. Teens with extreme levels of exposure to sexual content on

Raphael6 television are twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy over the following three years as peers who watch fewer such shows. (Thompson, June) Teen sexual activity is portrayed as normal and without any risk. Some also feel that shows such as Teen Mom will make teen pregnancy seem easy and glamorous. Many of the characters obtain fame outside of the television programs in the general media, which has led many to believe the shows are a bad influence for teens as it glamorizes teen pregnancy. The teens receive support from parents, boyfriends and receive money from the reality shows. By reality industry estimates primary stars of "Teen Mom" have received more than $60,000. By age 22, only around 50 percent of teen mothers have received a high school diploma and only 30 percent have earned a General Education Development (GED) , whereas ninety percent of women who did not give birth during adolescence receive a high school diploma. Only about 10 percent of teen mothers complete a two or four-year college program. Teen fathers have a twenty five to thirty percent lower odds of graduating from high school than teenage boys who are not fathers. (Hoffman & Maynard, 2008). However, reality shows such as Teen Mom may be helping reduce teen pregnancy. A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research study has found that watching 16 and Pregnant led to more tweets and online searches regarding birth control and abortion for teens. Episodes of Teen Mom regularly show young girls sacrificing new clothes, fun parties and

Raphael7 dates to stay at home with and tend to their babies. 16 and Pregnant portray exhausted teenagers struggling with uncooperative boyfriends and highlights the difficulties they face in their relationships. The teens on the show also suffer from drug addictions, child custody issues and jail. For example, single mom Janelle Evans, lost custody of her child and has publically documented her struggles with drug abuse and her husbands imprisonment. The entertainment media can be a force for good also. One of the nations best achievements of the past two decades has been the historic decline in teen pregnancy. MTV and other television outlets have increased attention to the risks and reality of teen pregnancy and parenthood. This proves to teens that all though the teens on these reality shows appear to be living a glamorous life, they really are not. What parents can do Parents are responsible for making sure that their teen knows about sex and the risk associated. Parents of teens should sit down and talk to their children and make sure they understand everything about sex. They can use the media to show the positive and negative effects of sex. Sexual evolution is an important part of the teenage years but parents need to help their teens understand their feelings, pressure from peers and how to say no if they do not want to have sex. If your teen becomes sexually active, they need to know how to prevent pregnancy and how to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases. It is of great importance that teens

Raphael8 talk with their parents about sex and relationships. Parents have a strong influence on whether a teen makes healthy decisions for themselves. This goes for making healthy decisions about sex, as well. Study shows that teens who receive advice from their parents about sex, relationships, birth control and pregnancy become sexually active at an older age. They also make better choices as to birth control. (""Sexual health".Talking to your teen about sex.".) What teens can do Teen motherhood is the leading reason why teen girls drop out of school. Less than half of teen mothers graduate from high school and fewer than 2% earn a college degree by age thirty. Children of teen mothers do worse academically in school than those born to older parents. They are also fifty percent more likely to repeat a grade and are more likely to drop out of high school than the children of older mothers. About one-fourth of teen moms have a second child within 24 months of the first birth which can further delay their ability to finish school. If a teen chooses to have sex it is important to talk about it with their partner. Having blunt conversations about sex can be tough, but it would be easier if a teen is sure about their facts and able to express honestly how they feel. Teens should get informed and make sure to think through what feels right for them. It may help if teens talk these decisions over with a best friend, a parent, doctor, or other trusted adult before they talk to their partner. When teens are clear about

Raphael9 their own feelings, it will be easier to communicate them to someone else. Teens should not wait until they are in the heat of the moment to make these decisions about sex, having a plan means being prepared before they are in the moment.(Stayteen.org)

Work Cited Page Community Practitioner (2008): n.pag. Academic one file. Web. 04 Mar 2014. Fass, Paula. Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood:In History and Society. 3. New York: 2004. Radhika , Sanghan. ""MTV reality shows are reducing teen pregnancies.Welcome to the new

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birth control;MTV reality shows '16 and Pregnant and 'Teen Mom' could be helping reduce teen birth rates by a third in America, a study shows.." Telegraph Online (2014): n.pag. Student Resources in Context. Web. 06 Mar 2014. "Remote Birth Control." Macleans 27 (2014): n.pag.Student Resources in Context. Database. 04Mar 2014. ""Sexual health".Talking to your teen about sex." Mayo clinic. Mayo clinic staff. Web. 25 Mar 2014. <mayoclinic.org>. Suellentrop, K., Brown, J., & Ortiz, R. (2010). Science Says #45: Evaluating the Impact of MTVs 16 and Pregnant on Teens' Attitudes about Teen Pregnancy. Thompson, June. "Viewing sexual content on tv linked to subsequent teen pregnancy." "teen health and the media." washington.edu. University of Washington. Web. 27 Mar 2014.

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