Bristol Palin, Jaime-Lynn Spears: just two examples of women who contribute to the “nearly 40% of babies born in the US in 2007 delivered to single unwed mothers” (Ravitz) number. I’m sure you’ve noticed in the pop culture media that there is an alarming increase in the number of women who are having unplanned pregnancies at a very early age. I’m not saying that what these women are doing is wrong – but I am worried at how carefree these women have babies like it’s no big deal. Where is all their common sense?
It’s annoying that the celebrities don’t realize that (unfortunately) we have to hear about their lives in magazines and on TV. The public – and young girls – see and often emulate these celebrities – and now because there is a new “baby boom” in Hollywood, many teen girls and early-twenties women think it’s okay to have a baby if, “Angelina” or “Octomom” are doing it. The problem is that the magazines and TV shows only reveal the jovial, relaxed, easy times these celebrities are having with their newborns – what about the cost, time, effort, responsibility it takes to raise, um, America’s future citizens?
Recently, teens and “about 50,000 women delivering babies each year are single moms by choice” (Ravitz) and that it seems (increasingly) like the normative for American women. So I’m 19, I’m getting an education, and I don’t have a baby – is my lifestyle obsolete?
I would be mortified if I had a baby “in the near future” – but just imagine what our parents think and how much they worry about their daughters watching celebs having babies like it’s noting (because they have the money) and will think it’s okay because it’s what the celebs are doing.
Ravitz, Jessica. “Out-of-Wedlock Births Hit Record High.” CNN News. 8 April 2009.
<http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/04/08/out.of.wedlock.births/index.html>
You pointed out a very important issue. I didn't realize that there was such an increase in teenage pregnancies. I had thought that most teenage pregnancies occurred because the girls were irresponsible but to willingly get pregnant is very surprising. Its ridiculous how young girls are so easily swayed by the media and want to grow up so fast. I would be mortified too if I had a baby any time soon. There's so much I still want to do and things I want to accomplish. These girls who are getting pregnant so young really need to take a closer look at the consequences of their actions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I definitely see where you are coming from, I have to disagree with the initial statement that the influence of the above-mentioned celebrities is some how correlated to an increase in babies born to unwed mothers. There are many factors to consider, such as access to education and socio-economic status. One factor I think you should look at, since you mentioned Bristol Palin, is the role that abstinence only sex education plays in the rate of unwed mothers. In an interview with Bristol she proclaimed that abstinence only sex-ed is “not realistic at all.” And far from suggesting that having a baby is all fun and games, Bristol confesses that it’s “not glamorous.” Although I disagree with your stance, I really liked your blog post and the link you provided. It is awesome.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/17/bristol.palin.interview/index.html?eref=rss_topstories