The Phenonmeon of Teen Mom

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Teen Mom II is the second incarnation of MTV's number one rated reality series 16 and Pregnant. The show documents the lives of four teenage mothers as they struggle to cope with the burden of childrearing in a financially demanding society while trying to navigate through the journey of adolescence. Once catering to a music oriented teenage consumer, MTV has reinvented itself as a teen reality television powerhouse, with many of its reality shows, including Teen Mom II, consistently dominating in the ratings. Although advertisers eagerly race to gain the attention of the much sought after 18-49 demographic, critics question the stereotypes that may be reinforced through the television program and the negative sociological effects, the show could have on its viewers. The debate on the effects the mass media has on adolescences, has been occurring for many years. The Teen Mom franchise is just the latest subject in the discussion. With the recent influx of reality television programming targeting young people, Teen Mom II has come under increasing scrutiny. In the first episode of the season titled “Nothing Stays The Same,” Jenelle Evans, one of the teen moms featured on the show, is seen shoving her mother in a fit of rage during a heated argument over a custody of her son Jace. Not long after the episode aired, tabloid magazines featured Jenelle on the cover with the headlines referring to her as a “star.” Is this an example of the media rewarding bad behavior? Unfortunately outlandish behavior is nothing new for the series, as multiple episodes featured frequent incidents of domestic violence, verbal abuse, and family infighting. In an episode titled “Slippery Slope,” Chelsea is heard being referred to as a derogatory term ... ... middle of paper ... ... Haefner, Margaret, and Jamie Comstock. "Compliance Gaining On Prime Time Family Programs." Butler University Libraries. Web. 7 Apr. 2011. Jameson, Jaynee. "The Harsh Reality of Unreal Reality Television | Teen Opinion Essay." Teen Ink | A Teen Literary Magazine and Website. 13 Sept. 2010. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . Wakeling, Forest. "The Teen Pregnancy Spectacle: A Closer Look." HoTEB: A Forest Wakeling Project. 4 Apr. 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. Critic, Futon. "Ratings - Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Teen Mom" Climbs to Top | TheFutonCritic.com." TheFutonCritic.com - The Web's Best Television Resource. Feb.-Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. .

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