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The Media & The Media & Young Mothers Young Mothers Lauren Lauren Tuttle Tuttle

Media and young mothers

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Page 1: Media and young mothers

The Media & The Media & Young MothersYoung Mothers

Lauren Lauren TuttleTuttle

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Popular CulturePopular Culture has developed a negative has developed a negative attitude towards young mothers and is attitude towards young mothers and is consistently being reinforced by social media.consistently being reinforced by social media.

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I think it’s safe to say Google yields search I think it’s safe to say Google yields search results with results with textstexts relevant to social issues in relevant to social issues in present day society.present day society.

Google generated the following images when I Google generated the following images when I searched “teen mom” and “young mothers”….searched “teen mom” and “young mothers”….

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Ads found in NYC Ads found in NYC subwayssubways

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Ads found in NYC Ads found in NYC subwayssubways

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The meaning and message that The meaning and message that II get from these get from these images makes young mothers out to be careless, images makes young mothers out to be careless, self-absorbed, and not to be taken seriously.self-absorbed, and not to be taken seriously.

The images from the NYC subway bring a The images from the NYC subway bring a message that there is no hope for young mothers message that there is no hope for young mothers oror their children, young mothers are going to be their children, young mothers are going to be raising their child alone, and a message to be raising their child alone, and a message to be ashamed.ashamed.

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““Although being a teen mom is an entirely different, uniquely challenging Although being a teen mom is an entirely different, uniquely challenging experience from the 20-something  mom, we're still relatively grouped into the experience from the 20-something  mom, we're still relatively grouped into the same category -- at least to the rest of the world. And if the shows same category -- at least to the rest of the world. And if the shows Teen Mom Teen Mom and and 16 and Pregnant16 and Pregnant teach the world anything (besides don't get knocked up teach the world anything (besides don't get knocked up in high school), it's that young motherhood comes along with in high school), it's that young motherhood comes along with drug chargesdrug charges, , promiscuitypromiscuity and and bad choicesbad choices. That young motherhood is an . That young motherhood is an irresponsible irresponsible accidentaccident limited to the limited to the uneducateduneducated, the , the disadvantageddisadvantaged or the or the fiercely fiercely religiousreligious. Young motherhood is not wanted. And even those who are 23, 24, . Young motherhood is not wanted. And even those who are 23, 24, 25 years old will still be 25 years old will still be judged, speculated, gossiped aboutjudged, speculated, gossiped about……

Of course she'd get pregnant young. Of course she'd get pregnant young. She's ‘that typeShe's ‘that type.’’.’’””

- blogger Michelle Horton - blogger Michelle Horton www.earlymamma.comwww.earlymamma.com

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She's ‘that type.’She's ‘that type.’

When I began putting together ideas for this presentation When I began putting together ideas for this presentation “that type”“that type” kept coming to mind as I tried to define the kept coming to mind as I tried to define the stereotype of young mothers.stereotype of young mothers.

‘‘That type’That type’ will bring an image to mind for some if not all of will bring an image to mind for some if not all of you, of a teen or young mom. ‘you, of a teen or young mom. ‘That type’ That type’ is what the media is what the media has been creating with shows like teen mom, even further has been creating with shows like teen mom, even further back to episodes of Maury or Jerry Springer.back to episodes of Maury or Jerry Springer.

But I knew there would probably be someone who would But I knew there would probably be someone who would refute my description of a young mom as “you know, that refute my description of a young mom as “you know, that type” by asking “what do you mean ‘that type?’” and type” by asking “what do you mean ‘that type?’” and Michelle Horton’s blog post couldn’t have explained it better.Michelle Horton’s blog post couldn’t have explained it better.

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False Perception of False Perception of RealityReality

I’m not proud to admit that I was a person who judged, I’m not proud to admit that I was a person who judged, speculated, and gossiped when girls in high school were speculated, and gossiped when girls in high school were pregnant or there was a young woman pregnant at the pregnant or there was a young woman pregnant at the mall.mall.

This was because of the ‘idea’ of a young mother was This was because of the ‘idea’ of a young mother was molded by society to be, again “molded by society to be, again “that type.that type.””

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False Perception of False Perception of RealityReality

This was until my This was until my point of viewpoint of view changed changed

and the roles were reversed. and the roles were reversed.

I became the young mother being judged and stereotyped by my I became the young mother being judged and stereotyped by my friendsfriends, my , my friends parentsfriends parents, , co-workers,co-workers, and by and by people I didn’t even people I didn’t even

know - people who didn’t know my story.know - people who didn’t know my story.

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I always pictured myself having a ‘normal’ life - finishing school, I always pictured myself having a ‘normal’ life - finishing school, getting married, owning a home, steady job and then starting a getting married, owning a home, steady job and then starting a family. However, things never seem to work out the way you plan family. However, things never seem to work out the way you plan them.them.

I found out I was pregnant 2 months before my 21st birthday. I found out I was pregnant 2 months before my 21st birthday.

Because I knew what people thought of young mothers, because I Because I knew what people thought of young mothers, because I had judged young mothers, I knew exactly what people were going had judged young mothers, I knew exactly what people were going to think of me - but I remembered to think of me - but I remembered they don’t know me.they don’t know me.

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I knew I wasn’t I knew I wasn’t “that type” “that type” of girl social media made my situation out to be so I tried and continue to of girl social media made my situation out to be so I tried and continue to try not to be ashamed when I tell people my age or say “boyfriend” rather than “husband.”try not to be ashamed when I tell people my age or say “boyfriend” rather than “husband.”

However, I’m proud to be a mom to the sweetest little boy, I’m proud to be working in the Legal However, I’m proud to be a mom to the sweetest little boy, I’m proud to be working in the Legal Department at Unum, and I’m proud of myself for not giving up on my degree despite the challenge Department at Unum, and I’m proud of myself for not giving up on my degree despite the challenge

it has become.it has become.

To me, this image carries the meaning of a happy & loving family.To me, this image carries the meaning of a happy & loving family.