I guess there just isn't enough to say about Britney, that Jamie Lynn Spears has become the new poster girl for teen pregnancy? Maclean's Magazine has done a feature story on "teen pregnancy."
Recent popular discourse on young mothers has been about just that - girls having babies. Barely a mention is given to the (presumably) adolescent boys impregnated them! The double standard of sexual behaviour continues. I don't believe that the "rise" of privileged young moms is sufficient cause for "celebration" that being a teen mom no longer comes with the stigma it once did, nor that social disapproval for "out-of-wedlock" mothers has done a 180. There is something going on, though.
I agree with Andrea O'Reilly (featured in the articles linked) that we are witnessing more recognition of 'other' forms of mothering (outside of the idealized, mystique of the traditional, heterosexual, white, middle-class, 20 something mother sacrificing all for her children). However, I am cautious about interpreting new(er) categories like 'lesbian mom,' 'young mom,' and 'older mom,' as evidence that all motherhood identities are equally acceptable in North American society. All mothers (and all women) are judged according to motherhood ideologies (some old and tired, others perhaps more en vogue) - culturally prescribed ways of being, acting and performing motherhood. If a young mom has access to resources - not limited to financial support, stability and social networks - she is positioned to deal physically, psychologically and emotionally with the ups and downs of new motherhood. Likewise, such a mom will be better able to withstand, negotiate and resist the disapproving eyes, snide remarks and is otherwise deemed deviant, that is, a "bad mom!"
Check out the story and let me know what you think...
http://www.macleans.ca/culture/lifestyle/article.jsp?content=20080117_99497_99497
or,
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18790.aspx
for a shorter version.
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These are very interesting articles; although I can't say I know nearly enough about the 'academic' side of the issues to properly critique and make comments. With respect to celebrity media and hollywood portrayals, though, I do wonder about proportionality. It seems our society is now much more heavily saturated (obsessed) with hollywood/media/celebrity in general compared to when I was a pre-teen/teen (80s). My perceptions then were influenced by the fairly frequent teen pregnancy stories on degrassi (the original), Facts of Life, etc. That is, in my experience, even 20+ years ago it wasn't all 'Leave it to Beaver'-type portrayal, as some passages in the article would lead me to believe. If the portrayal and coverage of teen pregnancy by hollywood/celebrity has increased, has it's growth and influence been in proportion with the overall saturation with all things hollywood/celebrity?
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