Today, a quick Google of Jenelle Evans brings up a controversial result. In October of 2010, she was caught with cannabis and charged with possession in addition to two other offenses. Ever since, she has been in the public eye.
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She has also graced the cover of OK! magazine because her "out of control" antics. |
Now, I am not here to defend her actions, but considering everything a teenager has to deal with in addition to giving birth to a child that she was so not ready to prepare for to the point of signing over custody to her mother, Barbara...what would you do? Is this form of rebellion expected, justified, or completely irresponsible? (Or, do you have other questions that you want to answer?)
I want opinions!
-Claire L.
Clair I think this post is so interesting. As I said in class Monday, mothers are judged in our society based on anything they do that is not 'for the baby'. So anything they do for themselves or anything that can be seen as 'negatively' affecting the child, and in who's eyes is this 'negativity' being seen, is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteIt is worthy to point out that this spotlight on every behavior is simply an extension to the spotlight women are put into the moment they become pregnant. Anything they do whether it be drink a glass of wine, tan or wear tight clothing, expecting women's behaviors and bodies are thought to be up for anyone's eyes, opinions and hands. Not to mention any research on the so called negative effects of many of these behaviors is biased and not well supported.
However despite this the public feels they have the right to dictate how pregnant women and then moms act. This usually does not come into conflict because what is expected of moms is generally expected of older women anyways. The conflict comes into play when the moms are younger and then the norms they are supposed to fill are what is conflicting. But really who in the world wants to be judged under a microscope constantly?
That's what I think anyway.
Emilia
Emilia - I think you make some great points! Pregnancy and pre-natal care in the US is examined with such scrutiny, yet so so many women in the rest of the world subsist with their "third world" medicine and seem to survive just fine.
ReplyDelete-Claire L.
I don't think that her behavior is acceptable, but I do feel that because janelle is in the public eye that we as viewers of 16 and pregnant judge her harshly. Again I don't agree with everything she does as a parent or a teen, but some of the "ordinary" people we know do the same things as janelle with way less judgement.
ReplyDeleteSimone mc
The situation as I see it: 16 & Pregnant is a show that entertains people. There may be an underlying message, warning teenagers about the hardships of pregnancy but many people watch it to be entertained.
ReplyDeleteOk! Magazine is a magazine circulated for entertainment. The people that read the magazine do so to be entertained. While the magazine may argue that Jenelle's decisions are not in "the best interest" of her baby, splashing her decisions on the cover of Ok! is also, not great for the family.
I don't know Jenelle. That being said, I would be lying if I said I did not have an opinion about her actions and about how they influence her baby. Yes, she is a teenager, but she chose to have sex, sex leads to a baby and that baby is a responsibility. If she did not feel ready to take care of that baby, there are many people who are.
However, I agree with Emilia, in that pregnant women are looked at under a microscope. Everything they do "should be for their baby." This does not justify Jenelle's actions, in my opinion, but I do think it is an interesting point to consider.