Has the media gone crazy over teenage pregnancies???
Just aired on Tuesday, July 1st, ABC's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" is already facing a collective critical question mark. The L.A. Times review of the first episode professes skepticism and underlying negativity toward the drama as it falls in line with last year's Juno, the recent Gloucester teen pregnancies, and celebrity teen pregnancies. The subject appears to have become a redundant issue, and leaves audiences (myself included) scratching their heads as to what kind of message such shows are exhibiting.
Are we still supposed to be shocked at teen pregnancy? Should we embrace it? Is it ok to be a child raising a child? Should young sex be condoned or abhorred?
The L.A. Times review (in my opinion) accurately points out yet another problem with these recent angst-ridden dramas: the depiction of all sex as either something done to get it over and done with or as an action done because of a need to be loved/lack of attention. Is this how parents want their kids to view sex? Is this how most people perceive sex? I would like to think not.
However, I am not a parent. Despite this fact, I am consistently startled by the media's portrayal of teens, sex and pregnancy--it just seems far from the truth.
I acknowledge that teen pregnancies happen and that support and love should be the foremost emotions surrounding such situations. However, is there not a better way to communicate that?
I'm curious to hear what other people think about this new TV drama. I did not get to watch the first episode, so my perspective is somewhat limited. Please share your thoughts!
Are we still supposed to be shocked at teen pregnancy? Should we embrace it? Is it ok to be a child raising a child? Should young sex be condoned or abhorred?
The L.A. Times review (in my opinion) accurately points out yet another problem with these recent angst-ridden dramas: the depiction of all sex as either something done to get it over and done with or as an action done because of a need to be loved/lack of attention. Is this how parents want their kids to view sex? Is this how most people perceive sex? I would like to think not.
However, I am not a parent. Despite this fact, I am consistently startled by the media's portrayal of teens, sex and pregnancy--it just seems far from the truth.
I acknowledge that teen pregnancies happen and that support and love should be the foremost emotions surrounding such situations. However, is there not a better way to communicate that?
I'm curious to hear what other people think about this new TV drama. I did not get to watch the first episode, so my perspective is somewhat limited. Please share your thoughts!
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