The movie Juno did indeed present an unrealistic view of the experience of teen motherhood. But I sincerely doubt it'd inspire any young girl to get pregnant. People treat teen pregnancy like a plague. If high profile teen mothers are shown to tweens and teens, they might "catch" the disease. It's an easy way to skirt the issue of why teen motherhood really happens.

It is quite true that minority teen mothers are presenting differently than white teen mothers. But I think you're off-base here.

I am currently writing a dissertation on the social construction of the teen mother, and I believe that books like Kids Having Kids, writing with the political agenda if teen pregnancy prevention, have had horrible harmful effects on the treatment of teen mothers in American society. Don't believe me? Check this out: [www.thenationalcampaign.org]

On that page are links to posters such as this one: [www.thenationalcampaign.org]

Did you notice that page on which these poster are sold is called "fun stuff"?

The social construction of the teen mother is harming women and babies, keeping them in the cycle of poverty every day. Don't let a negative reaction to Sarah Palin let you be blinded to that.

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I was a teen mom too, and I know how the judgmental attitudes impact us. I almost have a Ph.D., and my daughter graduated valedictorian of her high school class. She was study body president, Wendy's High School Heisman athlete, and a host of other things. Even so, when people see us and realize I'm her mom, they still give us disapproving looks.

It's really sad. The stigma never goes away. I hope my work can contribute a little to changing that.

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