MTV and Teen Pregnancy

Critical Essays on 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. Letizia Guglielmo, ed. Scarecrow Press, 2013
Available at Rowman and Littlefield, Amazon, and other online retailers.

In 2009, 16 and Pregnant premiered on MTV, closely followed by the spinoffs Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2. Because of their controversial portrayals of teenage mothers, the shows have received ongoing media attention. Among these debates, there have been surprisingly few in-depth discourses that discuss the  shows’ impact have on teenage audiences.

In MTV and Teen Pregnancy: Critical Essays on 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, contributors from a variety of backgrounds and expertise offer potent essays about these programs. Divided into four parts, the book tackles the controversial representations of teen pregnancy from various disciplines. Part I explores gendered social norms and the shows’ roles as either educational resources or idealized depictions of teenage motherhood. Part II prompts readers to consider the intersections of race, class, gender, and the social and cultural power structures often glossed over in these programs. Part III focuses on teenage fathers and the portrayal of masculinity. Part IV draws from TVs representations of reality to discuss the impact of these shows on the viewing audience. This section includes a narrative from a teen mother who argues that the shows do not accurately reflect her experience and the experiences of other young mothers.

As the debates about 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom continue, this collection provides a valuable critical discourse to be used both inside and outside the classroom. Those engaged in courses on gender and women’s studies, media studies, social work, and family and childhood development, among others, will find MTV and Teen Pregnancy especially insightful, as will those involved in community outreach programs, teens, parents of teens, and young mothers.