MTV and teen pregnancy : critical essays on 16 and pregnant and Teen mom / edited by Letizia Guglielmo.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Guglielmo, Letizia, 1977-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Teenage mothers.

Teenage pregnancy.

16 and pregnant (Television program).

Teen mom (Television program).

Reality television programs--Social aspects.

Reality television programs.

Mass media and teenage girls.

Physical Description:

xii, 264 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2013.

Summary:

In 2009, 16 and Pregnant premiered on MTV, closely followed by spinoffs Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2. Because of their controversial portrayals of teenage mothers, the shows have received ongoing media attention. While some argue that the programs could play a factor in reducing the number of teen pregnancies, others claim the shows exploit young women and glamorize their situations. Among these debates, there have been surprisingly few in-depth discourses regarding the consequent influence 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, the portrayal of masculinity, and "good" versus "bad" parents. Part IV draws from TV's 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 the life she leads. 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, as well as media studies, social work, and family and childhood development, will find MTV and Teen Pregnancy especially insightful-as will those involved in community outreach programs, not to mention teens and young mothers themselves. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I Feminist Interventions or Tired Narratives? 1

1 Teen Momism on MTV: Postfeminist Subjectivities in 16 and Pregnant / Caryn Murphy Murphy, Caryn 3

2 16 and Pregnant and the "Unvarnished" Truth about Teen Pregnancy / Letizia Guglielmo Guglielmo, Letizia, Kimberly Wallace Stewart Stewart, Kimberly Wallace 19

3 Teen Moms Negotiate Desire: The (Re)Production of Patriarchal Motherhood in MTV's Teen Mom / Anastasia Todd Todd, Anastasia 35

4 Othering the Mothering: Postfeminist Constructs in Teen Mom / Jennifer A. Fallas Fallas, Jennifer A. 49

Part II "The Personal Is Political": Teen Pregnancy and Hegemony 65

5 "100% Preventable": Teen Motherhood, Morality, and the Myth of Choice / May Friedman Friedman, May 67

6 Teen Sex: An Equal Opportunity Menace: Multicultural Politics in 16 and Pregnant / Clare Daniel Daniel, Clare 79

7 Sensationalizing the Sentimental: National Culture and Futurity / Melanie Anne Stewart Stewart, Melanie Anne 93

8 Pathological Motherhood, Parental Relationships, Expert Counseling, and Heteronormativity: A Framework of Anxiety and Reassurance through MTV's Teen Mom / Martina Thomas Thomas, Martina 109

Part III Making Room for Daddy: Images of Teen Fatherhood 123

9 16 and Pregnant, Masculinity, and Teen Fatherhood: Reconciling or Reinforcing Stereotypes? / Jennifer Beggs Weber Weber, Jennifer Beggs, Enid Schatz Schatz, Enid 125

10 Teenage Fathers: The Disruption and Promotion of the Heterosexual Imaginary / Andrea M. McClanahan McClanahan, Andrea M. 141

11 What's a Baby Daddy to Do?: Fathers on the Fringe in MTV's 16 and Pregnant / Laura Tropp Tropp, Laura 161

Part IV Is This Real Life? Mediating the Whole Story of Teen Pregnancy and Motherhood 177

12 "Having an Abortion Is Not Uncommon, but Talking about It Publicly Is": Exploring the Potential for Positive, Feminist, Pro-Choice Portrayals of Young Women's Experiences with Abortion in Mass Media through MTV's "No Easy Decision" / JoAnne Gordon Gordon, JoAnne 179

13 "I'll See You in Court": The Collision of Legal Drama Frames and Public Policy / Alison N. Novak Novak, Alison N., India J. McGhee McGhee, India J. 193

14 The Young and the Pregnant: Edutainment, Reality Television, and the Question of Teen Pregnancy Prevention on 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom / Margaret Tally Tally, Margaret 207

15 Isolated and Struggling: A Real-Life "Sixteen and Pregnant" Narrative / Allison Bass Bass, Allison 219.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780810891692

0810891697

OCLC:

828265104