Thesis: The media portrays pregnancy unrealistically, thus negatively affecting teenagers and their likelihood to engage in unprotected sex, putting their sexual health at risk and becoming more likely to get pregnant at a young age.
On one side of the argument, I looked at how the media glorifies teen pregnancy. Movies such as Juno, Knocked Up, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High were movies that I looked at that portrayed pregnancy unrealistically and didn't address appropriate consequences of sex. In Juno, the assumption is that teen parents have a supportive family, and finding a solution (a family to hand that baby off too) is easy. In Knocked Up, it portrays casual sex leading to pregnancy as a happy circumstance, making it seem "cool" in popular culture. Fast Times at Ridgemont High just barely addresses an abortion, which the character is least concerned with as she has more important things to worry about (like boy troubles). All of these movies are examples of how sex and pregnancy is be
ing portrayed in the media unrealistically.Media theories such as the social learning theory and cultivation theory helped to explain how these portrayals in the media can affect teens. With the media becoming so apparent in our everyday lives, it seems that it is also acting as an important role in shapi
ng our society.On the other side, I found arguments that Juno portrayed a positive role model that took responsibility and resisted social pressure, traits that could impact teens positively as they make the change into adulthood. I looked at individual differences theory and uses and gratifications theory to help explain how the media having sexual content may not have a negative influence on society. I also argued that teens are capable of dividing entertainment from reality.
This article addresses the Gloucester teen incident as the "Juno effect". 17 teens were said to have all gotten pregnant at the same time at Gloucester High. I found conflicting information about the Gloucester High incident, so I decided not to use it in my research. However, this article gives a good basis for what my paper is about.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91906103
Another article I used in my paper:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-03-09-juno-pregnancy-main_N.htm
3 comments:
The Media plays a very interesting role when they portray pregnancy in movies. Personally I dont think that they intentionally create young adults wanting to have children, in my opinion pregnancy movies are soley for entertainment. But I could definitly see how some young adults view these movies and get the wrong idea about having a baby. I dont think the movies make them want to go out and get pregnant, but I could see how if the situation occurs, they could be more vulnerable to keeping the baby.. Very interesting research topic! Good work!
I found your topic interesting because I haven't really noticed the implications of those movies you stated like Juno and Knocked Up on society. Both movies glorify pregnancy and make it appear like it is an easy process and that it's easy to deal with. In reality though, I found that seeing girls pregnant in high school proves to be one of the most difficult things not only on the individual and her unborn baby, but their families and their peers. I think the media is sending the wrong message about teen pregnancy and its perceived "coolness." At the end of your post you talked briefly about those 17 high school girls who got pregnant because they all agreed to do it and raise the kids together. To me this illustrates how the media might be sending the wrong message. Great post tho. I like how you weaved the pictures into your blog;)
I'm happy to find that you also found positive feedback for "Juno." We have to admit that those movies justify and glorify teen pregrancy to some degree, but I still think teen pregnancy movies could give us positive effects on teens if movies more focus on negative consequences, such as financial issues and education of teen parents. Anyway, the summary is very articulated and I pretty much enjoyed it.
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