Sociology
Teen pregnancy is the core context of the issue being featured in MTV’s shows 16 and pregnant, which the study by Kearny and Levine (2015) suggests that the show was able to significantly reduce the number of teen pregnancy. In a study conducted by Aubrey et al. (2014), examining the impact of the TV show revealed that instead of preventing teenage pregnancy, the show actually perpetuates an opposing effect. In addition, attitudes and perspectives towards teenage pregnancy as the MTV show is intending to expose vary among the tested subjects and one of the reasons stated in the survey is the manner of how the girls were represented in the show. In most part, the girls in the TV show represents white middle-class girls that are socio-economically capable of affording healthcare, finishing college, and have a lot of time to for themselves (Docketerman, 2014). This representation of the girls in the TV show was perceived as unrealistic (Martins and Jensen, 2014).
Even one of the former casts of the show Farrah Abraham stated that the representation of them in the show is something that is not common further stating that teen moms in America cannot simply afford their life as depicted on the show as most unmarried teen mothers are on welfare (Docketerman, 2014). The assumption can be easily assumed relevant to today’s culture and social environment considering that most of the girls that featured on the show appears to have an often absent father figure and undergoes peer and family pressure. The lifestyle and demographics of the girls that appeared in the show demonstrates the influence of media and popular culture towards the perspectives on teenage pregnancy. Studies conducted about the show also revealed the unrealistic representation of the girls because in terms of causation, income inequality and social disadvantages are perceived as strong factors that contributes to teenage pregnancy, which the TV show has failed to articulate (Harden et al., 2009).
References
Aubrey, J., Behm-Morawitz, E., & Kim, K. (2014). Understanding the Effects of MTV's 16 and Pregnant on Adolescent Girls' Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intentions Toward Teen Pregnancy. Journal Of Health Communication, 19(10), 1145-1160. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2013.872721
Dockterman, E. (2014). Does 16 and Pregnant Prevent or Promote Teen Pregnancy?. TIME.com. Retrieved 29 May 2016, from http://time.com/825/does-16-and-pregnant-prevent-or-promote-teen-pregnancy/
Harden, A., Brunton, G., Fletcher, A., & Oakley, A. (2009). Teenage pregnancy and social disadvantage: systematic review integrating controlled trials and qualitative studies. BMJ,339(nov12 1), b4254-b4254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b4254
Kearney, M. & Levine, P. (2015). Media Influences on Social Outcomes: The Impact of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant on Teen Childbearing †. American Economic Review, 105(12), 3597-3632. http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/aer.20140012
Martins, N. & Jensen, R. (2014). The Relationship Between “Teen Mom” Reality Programming and Teenagers' Beliefs About Teen Parenthood. Mass Communication And Society, 17(6), 830-852. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2013.851701
