If you've picked up a People magazine, US Weekly or OK! in the past few weeks then you've seen all the covers featuring the young women from MTV's Teen Mom show.
If you've paid attention to what some critics have to say about all this magazine coverage then you know there is a lot of chatter in the blogosphere about how this glorifies teen pregnancy.
I disagree.
My view is that it simply makes sense that these girls would end up on such magazines -- their show is a ratings success and viewers want to know more about their stories.
So, what are their stories?
In OK!, Teen Mom Farrah's cover story came with this headline: "TEEN MOM: I'M BROKE." The spread inside was all about how Farrah is trying to improve the tumultuous relationship she has with her mother and how she struggles to make ends meet. A quote from the story: "I don't speak to my mom. My dad has no money. It's pretty much a 'Farrah's on her own; hang in there' type of deal. It kinda sucks."
The US Weekly cover also featured Farrah and her young daughter, Sophia, as well as Teen Mom Maci and her now-toddler son, Bentley. Everyone was smiling in the photo but the headline underneath said: "INSIDE THEIR STRUGGLE - TEEN MOM." The article itself also had lovely photos but went into detail about Maci's ongoing drama with her son's father. The story explained how she and her ex try to co-parent in a respectful way though they "have sparred over everything from child support to his new girlfriend to pacifiers." Says Maci in the piece: "We barely speak. But I don't think it's a bad thing. We just try to avoid arguments as much as possible."
Another recent US Weekly cover featured Maci, her son, her new boyfriend, and the headline "HER SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE: STILL TORTURED BY HER HOSTILE EX, MACI STARTS FRESH WITH A NEW MAN." The story inside was about her falling in love again despite the challenges of early motherhood and a difficult co-parenting situation. Maci told the magazine how she was "nervous" getting involved again, given all she's been through.
And then last week People put Catelynn and her boyfriend Tyler on their cover with the headline "WE MISS OUR BABY." Catelynn and Tyler, the only couple on the series who are still together, chose adoption for their daughter Carly in a heart-wrenching episode of 16 and Pregnant, and since then Teen Mom has followed the emotional fallout from that decision. The article has photos from the teens' first reunion with Carly. A People quote from Tyler about Carly's family: "They are just so ready [to be parents]. Me and Catelynn were just so not ready."
Does any of this make teen parenthood seem glamorous? I say no. Sure, these girls are young and lovely, and their babies are adorable -- but there is no attempt here by MTV or by the celeb-style media coverage to make it look easy or desirable. MTV didn't have the Teen Moms at the Video Music Awards this past weekend -- those appearances are for the cast of Jersey Shore. And it's not like the magazines have the Teen Moms walking the red carpet or modeling the latest fall fashions.
The magazine coverage itself is a big improvement over past teen pregnancy/teen mom cover stories. Remember when Jamie Lynn Spears spoke exclusively to OK! in 2007 about her pregnancy at 16? Or a few months ago when US Weekly breathlessly told the world about Bristol Palin's engagement to Levi Johnston -- only to be followed up a couple of weeks later with People's exclusive about their breakup?
We haven't seen this kind of widespread popular media coverage of teen pregnancy since Juno was nominated for a bunch of Oscars in 2008. And Juno was a fairy tale about how easy adoption is and how families and relationships seem to weather it all with no long-term consequences whatsoever. I don't recall any real mention in the film (or the coverage) of the relationship turmoil, financial struggle, or emotional hardship that's too often a part of the teen pregnancy experience.
I'm glad these young women are cover girls -- because it means people (and People, US Weekly, and OK!, etc.) care about their stories. Which is important, because their stories are worth caring about.
I agree that the show doesn't make teen motherhood look easy or glamorous, but I feel like it still makes it look easier than it would be without some nice made-for-tv editing. Not that any of the girls are living in the lap of luxury, but they all seem to be living in nicer apartments and have nicer clothes than one would expect of someone living only on wages from the part-time, typically low-pay jobs in which they are working. I was really confused by this for a while, until I remembered that they were paid for being on the show, which would explain the income gap. However, I don't think most teenagers know enough about wages and cost of living to understand notice this, and it might give them a skewed perception of what it takes to support oneself in the real world, teen parent or not.
The show also makes it look a lot easier to get a same-day appointment with a doctor, therapist, etc. than it is in real life. That's probably not exactly a harsh life lesson that 16-year-olds need drilled into them, but it's another example of how the show is still a bit offset from reality.
Great article, Amy.
I haven't picked up a People magazine, US Weekly or OK! in the past few weeks (this careful avoidance a cornerstone of my ongoing strategy to minimize thoughts of suicide), but I have some awareness of our national fascination with the suffering and drama of others.
I'm inclined to agree with your assessment, although I wonder if the useful message within this dismal exploitation is reaching the demographic that most needs it. (A casual glance around suggests not.)
Awareness of teen pregnancy does seem to be increasing, which can only be a good thing. But perception of it as a problem to be prevented, rather than a "special blessing" that "just happens" to people, is slow to catch on. The role of religion, both in this cognitive error and in the common hang-ups and misunderstandings about sex and contraception, cannot be overstated.