Leaving Teen Moms Alone

Tracy - posted on 11/28/2010

I find it strangely surprising that there has been very little discussion about the impact of the fame (and show in general) is having on the kids. Haven't watched the show so I can't comment on that but I would guess its not exactly a bed of roses. Of course sounds it like some like some of the mom's were train wrecks to begin with so maybe it wouldn't matter anyway. In any case I really feel for the kids.... and I lump the teen moms into the category of kids.

Terri-lee - posted on 11/28/2010

i think that people who sign up for these shows should be aware they are going to be both loved and hated by many. and that they are exposing themselves to the world for cash... so whatever comes out of it was because of their decision to do that. and, i also think that anyone who watches teens fail miserably at mothering are a bit sick. I personally want to HELP mothers who are failing or finding it hard. teen or not teen.

i dont watch the show so i dont know if it glorifies teen pregnancy but i hope it doesnt. the fatherless generation of teenage mums is proof enough that we ladies should wait till were AT LEAST out of school before having babies. in saying that, once its done its done. get on with it and learn how to be efficient loving mothers. we need to support women young and old who have had children, for the children's sake.

Rebecca - posted on 11/28/2010

Tara, they get paid quite well to do the show. As well, they get paid for some interviews in mags, appearances, etc. Frankly, I wouldn't have minded making that sort of money when I was young. Still, it may have been too much too soon who knows.

On the show, I have also seen some of the girls attending therapy. Of course, other do not and seem to sorely need it.

Tara - posted on 11/28/2010

I have never watched the show, never heard of it until I saw it mentioned on com
However unless these girls are receiving more than an appearance fee for their participation in this program than they are already being exploited by MTV and the media is only doing what the media does.
Are they being given any money to help pay for the expenses of having a baby, are they receiving any paid for counselling services to help with the transition from girl to woman, from boy to man?
Do they have access to parenting classes and child development education?
Do the parents of these teen moms get any assistance from the producers for day care, meals, etc. when they are caring for the kids?
If none of these benefits are present than this show is pure entertainment and nothing more. And that to me is just an example of how we as a society are amusing ourselves to death.
How is it that we can take pleasure from watching the potential demise of so many little lives? How did we as a society come to enjoy watching a weekly account of some poor teen girls train wreck of a life?
I think shows like this are just the next generation of Jerry Springer, except now instead of just interviewing these poor girls for an hour, we get to jump right into their life. People all over the country sit back at night in their lazy boy recliners to watch the pitfalls and misery of others. I think it makes everyone feel just a little better about their own situation.

Julianne - posted on 11/28/2010

Well, i dont watch tv for the simple fact that it teaches ill moral things. Depicting women who sleep around, violence, and a lot of other things. Anything people see on tv (children who are impressionable mainly.) They believe this is normal and tend to follow what they see to fit in with society. If teen mothers are all over tv, then obviously it will rub off on our youth.

Chrystal - posted on 11/27/2010

Honestly as much as I'm hooked on the show, I think MTV is glorifying it. It's not something to be taken lightly at all, teen pregnancy is serious, and MTV doesn't make it out to be that way.

Stifler's - posted on 11/27/2010

Half the mums on the show leave the baby work to their mother. Back in the day women did their own baby work, moved out of home and got a life and were responsible. Women aren't the same now either.

Nikki - posted on 11/27/2010

I think that it is probably putting these girls on a pedestal and I don't agree with glorifying it at all. On the other hand it does show how hard it can be to haver a baby and be in school.

I wonder though how accurate the portrayals are after watching an episode involving a girl in my home town. The show made it out to look like the school singled her out for her absences because of the pregnancy and it the the same policy for everyone that has been in place since my sophomore year (2000-2001). That is the main issue I have is not knowing what is fact and what they are blowing out of proportion.

Julianne - posted on 11/27/2010

I dont watch tv or follow the media....so i have no clue what there doing....well people tell me some stuff....it leaks in every now and again

Rebecca - posted on 11/27/2010

Yeah Julianne, I often think about how people used to be married and pregnant at that age. Usually, I'm thinking that when their bodies pop back to normal the month after they give birth. It is quite obvious our bodies were made to bear children much younger than the average women these days. I agree too that most of the girls end up having to mom up and the guys vanish. That part makes me sad for their children. I don't think the actual program glamorizes the girls or at least it was not intentionally meant to be that way. I just think people were so drawn in by these girls their celebrity has eclipsed the original intention of the show.

I also know that they make money for being in magazines and on the show. As far as I'm concerned, I'd much rather they were thrown money than the cast of Jersey Shore. Still, they are making the dodge to feed their kids and there is a cost to the whole public eye thing.

I'm just not sure that was what was originally meant to happen with the show. It became way bigger in the whole individual celebrity of the girls than the sort of dressed up public service announcement it started out as. Having watched it from the beginning, at least it seems that way to me.

Julianne - posted on 11/27/2010

You do realize that in the past people regularly were married by 15ish and pregnant teens, the only difference now is the men are not the same. Most men turned into asses while women just want to raise their children. So yea leave them alone! Condemn the men that abandoned them.Its their fault most teen moms are single.

Kate CP - posted on 11/27/2010

If they wanted to be left alone they wouldn't have ever signed up to be on the show in the first place. No one is forcing them to do this. This was their choice and now they get to reap what they sewed.

Joy - posted on 11/27/2010

Well, for one thing, I can't stand people who are famous just for being famous. That includes people like Paris Hilton and all the moms on 16 & Pregnant. I do think they signed up for the grief when they agreed to do the show. I think a lot of them are seeking fame and then bitching about it when they get it. I think it's sad that they are gaining that fame because of the fact that they screwed around and got pregnant young. To me, that doesn't warrant deserving fame or fortune.

Krista - posted on 11/27/2010

I haven't even watched the show, but don't really give a damn about whether or not these teenagers are sheltered -- they signed up for it.

I do feel really bad for any babies/little kids dragged into reality programming. They didn't sign up for that shit.

Susanne - posted on 11/27/2010

I watched it a few times and some girls i wanted to slap others i just felt really sorry for. Either way they got themselves into that mess.

Stifler's - posted on 11/27/2010

NO, they went on the show! I hate those shows they are lame.

Sherri - posted on 11/27/2010

I LOVE that show SOOO much. They are now celebrates weather they asked for it or not and NO they should not be sheltered.



No I don't think it glorifies teen pregnancy at all. I think it would scare most girls. By the way I think most of them are amazing mothers there are a few that whew are frightening. Like anything else you have wonderful mothers and then you have quite questionable ones.

Johnny - posted on 11/26/2010

I haven't watched it and I won't be. I don't do "reality" shows anymore. I don't think that they are any different than all the other people pimping out their personal lives for attention and money all over television. Their kids will be just as screwed up as Jon & Kate's, those Toddler & Tiaras kids, and all of their ilk. Since I don't watch it, I've really got no idea why everyone is singling them out for criticism in this area, but probably because they are vulnerable, naive, and stupid, like most of us were when we were teens.

Sharon - posted on 11/26/2010

Frankly - they're just NASTY. God they gross me out. Yeah - I like watching the train wreck they call their lives. How pathetic they are!

By all means, continue to air this crap, let them further destroy themselves. Maybe some day they'll look back on this and say "OHMYGOD. I was soooo stupid & naive back then." But I doubt it. They lack self control and self awareness. To look back upon this time and see anything wrong with it, means they would have to LEARN and frankly they just don't want to.

Charlie - posted on 11/26/2010

they get paid in more ways than one , is it glorifying teen pregnancy ? on one hand no I mean who wants to be in their situation but on the other hand they are now celebrities and that draws it's own fans .

Either way I don't care much for them .

Liz - posted on 11/26/2010

They signed on for the show so they could get there 15 minutes of fame so in my opinion they brought it on them selves. I don't really see why anyone cares what is happening in there personal lives but I don't do the celebrity gossip thing either. Personally I hate the show and in a way I think it does glorify teen pregnancy.

Isobel - posted on 11/26/2010

I don't think MTV is stalking them...they volunteered.

Amanda - posted on 11/26/2010

I think that the girls have entertained us in their own way. They aren't supporting teen pregnancy, it's becoming the norm now, everyone everywhere is gettin pregnant at a young age or knows someone who is. I don't think the press really has a say in anything that goes on with these girls! They were the ones who chose to put their lives on public television for the world to see and judge, and they are getting the fame that goes with it. I do think that some magazines and news related aritcles go to far but I guess that's the way it goes. I am also addicted to that show and I love it! It's very addicting and it shows the hardships of teen pregnancy!