Teen Mom

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I've wondered about that...why all the moms were white (and for the most part middle class+).

I hypothesize a few reasons, including but not limited to:

1) Most of the viewers are white.
2) Nonwhite teen parents holds a different connotation therefore the critics and viewers would respond differently.
3) They may feel pressured to address different issues if they showed nonwhite teen parents, such as the correlates of poverty and family background for poor white teen parents and most Black and Hispanic teen parents.

4) With all of the above, it's more "fun" for everyone involved and the viewers to focus on their parenting, relationship troubles, and Farrah's mom. However, I get clues from a couple of the kids showcased that they are from working class or poor families (as are many of the viewers).

Even delving into the topics of Farrah's mom, the US magazine cover, and why some think this show downplays teen pregnancy is surprisingly a lot more intense than discussions of this show tend to be. Some people really want to treat this show as The Jersey Shore or The Real World.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I hypothesize a few reasons, including but not limited to:

1) Most of the viewers are white.
2) Nonwhite teen parents holds a different connotation therefore the critics and viewers would respond differently.
3) They may feel pressured to address different issues if they showed nonwhite teen parents, such as the correlates of poverty and family background for poor white teen parents and most Black and Hispanic teen parents.

4) With all of the above, it's more "fun" for everyone involved and the viewers to focus on their parenting, relationship troubles, and Farrah's mom. However, I get clues from a couple of the kids showcased that they are from working class or poor families (as are many of the viewers).

Even delving into the topics of Farrah's mom, the US magazine cover, and why some think this show downplays teen pregnancy is surprisingly a lot more intense than discussions of this show tend to be. Some people really want to treat this show as The Jersey Shore or The Real World.

Some of the reasons make sense to me...though didn't they have a new set of moms? Were all of them white, too? Too lazy to Google...

Caitlynn-Tyler and Amber-Gary seem to be from working class families, but Farrah's family appears to be fairly well off to me, as does Maci's (I see middle class to upper middle, but of course it's hard to tell). I know Farrah's new situation sort of covers this, but I wish they'd add a mom that doesn't get support from her family. The show has some potential to teach a lesson and not every teen mom will get to live with her parents and have help with the bills.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I hypothesize a few reasons, including but not limited to:

1) Most of the viewers are white.
2) Nonwhite teen parents holds a different connotation therefore the critics and viewers would respond differently.
3) They may feel pressured to address different issues if they showed nonwhite teen parents, such as the correlates of poverty and family background for poor white teen parents and most Black and Hispanic teen parents.

4) With all of the above, it's more "fun" for everyone involved and the viewers to focus on their parenting, relationship troubles, and Farrah's mom. However, I get clues from a couple of the kids showcased that they are from working class or poor families (as are many of the viewers).

Even delving into the topics of Farrah's mom, the US magazine cover, and why some think this show downplays teen pregnancy is surprisingly a lot more intense than discussions of this show tend to be. Some people really want to treat this show as The Jersey Shore or The Real World.

I agree. I think MTV was going after a specific target audience (white girls from the burbs) for this show plus the fact that teen pregnancy in white upper-middle class America is still highly stigmatized and looked down upon. I haven't seen all of the episodes but from what I have seen these moms are the only ones in their respective social circles who are teen moms.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

...teen pregnancy in white upper-middle class America is still highly stigmatized and looked down upon.

Teen pregnancy is still highly stigmatized and looked down upon across America. That spans across race and across socioeconomic status, until....

The segment of America where teen pregnancy is not stigmatized and not looked down upon is a subculture that is highly correlated with the culture of poverty.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Teen pregnancy is still highly stigmatized and looked down upon across America. That spans across race and across socioeconomic status, until....

The segment of America where teen pregnancy is not stigmatized and not looked down upon is a subculture that is highly correlated with the culture of poverty.

Through our signature program Project Reassurance, we are doing research on this right now because this wasn't always the case as you know, even in poor communities. And I'm glad you caught that (referring to PiKA2001's comments)because I had the face. I'm also glad this show puts out there what many of us already knew, that this is an issue that spans all demographics.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Through our signature program Project Reassurance, we are doing research on this right now because this wasn't always the case as you know, even in poor communities. And I'm glad you caught that (referring to PiKA2001's comments)because I had the face. I'm also glad this show puts out there what many of us already knew, that this is an issue that spans all demographics.

Project Reassurance kicks ass. Yeah getting married young, having babies young, and having large families meant different things 2+ generations ago in this country.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Project Reassurance kicks ass. Yeah getting married young, having babies young, and having large families meant different things 2+ generations ago in this country.

It means you're Mormon where I live.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Teen pregnancy is still highly stigmatized and looked down upon across America. That spans across race and across socioeconomic status, until....

The segment of America where teen pregnancy is not stigmatized and not looked down upon is a subculture that is highly correlated with the culture of poverty.

I was speaking specifically on what I believe the target demographic of the show is; white middle to upper middle class teens/young adults. I wasn't insinuating that it is accepted among other groups.