Teenpreg

That was the "slug" (short name or identifier for a news story) for my very first story at BYU Daily News. Yikes that was a tough one... Anyway.

I just stumbled across this today. A teen Latina faked her own pregnancy for her senior year as a sociology project/experiment. Only her boyfriend, parents and principal were in on it (not the boyfriend's parents mind you). The article is of course very flattering and she's portrayed as a hero. And she certainly is very brave, but my question is... well, why? She says she wanted to study people's reactions, gossip and all that sort of thing, but it seems like she didn't learn anything very new... wait, you mean teens gossip about girls that get pregnant? She could just as easily have surveyed pregnant teens around her. I mean, why not, but it seems pretty damaging to the rest of her family and her boyfriend's family. The biggest attraction about this is its shock value if you ask me: She did WHAT?! Anyway, regardless of the value of her experiment, I though the following comment brought up an interesting point:


"I would never have dared to get pregnant in high school because the social stigma was so great and I knew how completely crushed my parents would be. (Instead I went to Planned Parenthood.) Unfortunately, the social stigma has now loosened to the point where three of my nieces (children of white, middle-class, educated, still-married parents) had children too young and without being married....and they and their children are suffering the economic consequences. 

Gossip and stigma are used to enforce social rules - for good and for bad. In the case of unwed pregnancies, the pendulum has swung too far in terms of acceptance because the acceptance is a big part of what keeps teens from being careful about pregnancy in the first place."


What do you think? In being more accepting of practices we consider wrong, do we end up condoning those practices? Is there actually value to gossip?


EDIT: I think what I meant was more along the lines of "In being sensitive to the feelings of those who have made choices we condemn, do we end up condoning those practices?" 

Perfect

A friend introduced me to this gem. I think it eloquently portrays the struggles of today's youth:



I am absolutely speechless.

Awkward...

I am in the midst of New student orientation right now, which is fun (it is also hot outside). Our group has 10 guys and two girls, one of which (yikes. Is that correct? one of which?) is a big flirt so that kind of cracks me up.. Anyway.
The following conversation is an exchange between me and one of the girls in our group. We're greeting the students, making small talk, get-to-know you type stuff.

Me: So where are you from
Girl: I'm from Las Vegas
Me: Oh, that's where my husband's from!
Girl: What? You're MARRIED? (look of disbelief on her face)
Me: yes, yes I am...
Girl: you look like you're eighteen! How OLD are you???
Me: ... um I'm going on 22... (In my head: that would be four years older than you to begin with...)
Girl: I just can't believe you're married. You look like eighteen!
Me: polite smile (In my head: yeah, we went over that part already)

So, I get it that I look young, I really do. I also realize I married young.

But really? Is it not just a teeny bit rude to act so shocked? And to essentially tell someone they look like a child bride? And to demand proof of their age?

And really? Do I look like a freshman? I mean I was wearing a big goofy Y-group leader t-shirt, I guess that does look very "teenager-ish". I know I have big round cheeks. And yes, I know, I'll look young when I'm a middle-aged woman. yippee.

Sometimes this worries me though. I hope people don't see me and think "oh look a dumb blond teenager" and then skip over me for opportunities I am MORE than qualified for.

I'll simply let them know I just set the curve in my tv news producing class.
When I turned in my first paper at BYU, my professor thought it was so good that he ran it through plagiarism detection software to make sure I had actually written it. And promptly gave it 100%. I work as a translator alongside people who have masters degrees. I'm on the way to graduating without debt because I've been WORKING my way through college. I've made it to the back-up ballroom team because I saw them perform on BYUTV and said to myself: "I want to be on that stage." Last year, I danced on that stage. And again this year. And I will next year.

Oh, and I met the best man on earth and married him. Why wait if it's the right decision?! I can't stand arguments like "marriage will prevent you from fulfilling your academic dreams." Actually, my husband is pushing me towards them.
And you know what? I'm GLAD I married young. I know what direction my life is going and I'm glad I can start planning for the future with my husband.

Sorry about the brag fest. But sometimes you have to remind yourself that you are capable of things. I know what I'm worth.
Doesn't that deserve a little respect from little miss freshman?


What are you proud of?


PS: THIS is what a real child bride looks like.

(Yep, that's me with my mom's veil)



Oh and by the way, I've decided to give twitter a try, but it's not much fun without friends. Come check it out!