The forbidden "A" word.

16 and Pregnant is one show which I am a fan of. Recently the season finally ended and the after show was on MTV where all the girls come out and talk about their experiences with Dr. Drew. A typical 16 and Pregnant session hosts a hand full of teen girls that keep their children and one couple that opts out for adoption. What is interesting to me but is starting to become a problem for me is that there is never a couple that opts out for an abortion.

Sure there are a couple episodes where someone mentions an abortion as an option. But usually that talk comes quickly and from the boyfriend upon the initial shock of hearing that his girlfriend is pregnant. It is like they screen every girl on the show to learn her values, so that if that question comes up during filming she will be quick to express her pro-life points of view.

I know this subject does not sit well with most individuals. But it is another reality of our everyday society. This show is suppose to depict real life drama of teen pregnancy, but it only chooses to show two of the alternatives involved in pregnancy. It seems these days teen pregnancy is high, and yet as Dr. Drew said only about 2 percent of teen pregnancy ends in adoption. I would like to know how the other percent is broken up? I would not be surprised to learn if abortion was equal to or above that percentile.

So why is it that a teen mother who decides to have an abortion will never be aired on a 16 and Pregnant episode? Easy, advertisers. Advertisers do not want to associate their brand with a controversial subject. After all most funds earned by networks come from ad dollars. What is interesting is that, this show message is not trying to endorse teen pregnancy yet teach the struggles in hopes that other teens watching will consider using protection. In that case, why would it be so bad for one episode to showcase a teen girl choosing abortion and her struggles based on her decision. It seems that presenting all sides to a pregnancy would be more beneficial. Guess we have to let advertisers know that.

-LV