I’m a little bit ashamed to admit that I watched the reunion episode of MTV’s latest reality show, 16 and Pregnant tonight. I’ve also watched almost all of the rest of the season. Don’t Judge. It was of course, one of those train-wreck shows that you know you shouldn’t watch but can’t help it anyway. Afterwards though, Jake and I had a pretty long conversation about it. In a way, it seems like MTV did a pretty good job in making teen pregnancy look not all that terrible. One girl even went to college classes, worked a job, was on a dance team, and raised the baby by herself. But, they did have one baby-faced couple who decided to put their kid up for adoption. Watching these kids, who did not have the greatest childhoods, do something so selfless was pretty powerful. Especially since their parents didn’t even want them to consider adoption. 

I know the goal of the show (at least I hope) was to discourage unprotected sex and possibly even teen sex all together. But, I’m really curious to know how girls age 12-17 actually viewed the show. In this reunion special all of the girls, except the adoption case, said that their lives had changed and it was hard, but that they were capable of raising the baby and we’re happy. Of course I can’t imagine having a child now at 22, much less 16 and I just hope that this show is not the only look that teen girls have at what can happen from unprotected sex. Anyway, Jake and I both couldn’t decide if the show did more good or bad to help lower the teen pregnancy rate, which is apparently on the rise. Did you watch? What do you think?