Survey!

Below is a link to my survey on teen pregnancy. Take a moment and fill it out!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VVBQC96

Final Explanation

Message 1- This was a fear-inducing message. The reason that I choose the picture of the girl with the sign that reads, "please help feed my eating addiction" because it was a good picture of a girl that obviously looks grungy and looks like someone we all could possibly know or end up being. I wanted it to look like something that was not far fetched and could never happen to you. The second picture is more accurate in terms of the sign "lost job pregnant homeless hungry anything helps g-d bless!". There is no picture of her face but I wanted to send the message that by getting pregnant so young, without a stable job, relationship, or education a girl who is pregnant could end up on the streets. She can barley support herself so how would she ever support her child? I also wrote about the consequences of engaging in sexual activity and how it can happen even after the very first time, which many girls don't know.

Message 2- The reason I choose these pictures was because I wanted them to purposely use and have a lot of colors and distractions. They are both forms of cartoons so I thought that the colors and the images would distract from the real problem. Also the second cartoon has dialogue and it is slightly humorous, even more so to distract from the problem at hand. I choose the commercial because I thought it was a perfect sort of distraction with all the colors and the bad acting and the dance they are attending. It is simple enough in that it is warning you not to engage too much in this type of behavior because the consequences will follow (pregnancy).

Message 3- First I explained again some more statistics as to why and how to prevent teen pregnancy. I even showed a picture of a teen statistic. Then I explained why someone just might want to have a child at such a young age for various reasons or other. Then I proceeded to explain that none of those reasons constitute teen pregnancy. I also have a picture of Barbie who is pictured loving pregnancy because of all the cool clothes she can now buy. There is nothing cool about pregnancy and Barbie making an example out of that. I also have a site linked on my blog about a young girls personal story about getting pregnant. It is about a nice girl who gets pregnant and she says that she never thought it could happen to her. I choose this story because I wanted to explain that it really can happen to anyone, first time or last, no exceptions. I also thought she was a credible and reliable source that girls could relate to or feel sympathy with.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

As in many of the other posts on this blog, just to reiterate, teen pregnancy is 100% preventable. It is something that is unexpected and scary. It can ruin a young persons life even on the very first time. There is no if's and's or but's about it, teen pregnancy is an rising epidemic in this country and no one wants to be another teen pregnancy statistic. Of course some people say that they were in love, or that they really wanted a child, or that having a child at a young age allows the parent to live longer to see the child grow.

Of course they are wrong. There is no teenager who is in love and anyone from 15-19 who wants a child is missing something in their lives. Having a child at a young age to see them grow does not constitute teenage pregnancy. The picture with Barbie is a metaphor for teen pregnancy. Barbie is a young, pretty, perfect girl that everyone wants to be and have. She is the picture perfect woman. This image shows Barbie as a young pregnant teen and what little girl, or anyone for that matter would want to play with that doll?

http://teenadvice.about.com/library/weekly/aa122100a.htm

The following is a story of a teenager who was sexually active at a young age and ended up pregnant. It is titled "It Happens to Good Girls Too!" because it CAN and WILL happen to anyone who does not protect and arm themselves.

A Simple Message With Distractors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqeDb4ZBTig

These pictures are supposed to be a comical, yet simple messages designed to distract. One is of a girl drawn with purple hair and she is supposed to be pictured with a child on her front side. The other picture is sort of a joke, yet true. If a teenager is not old enough to even get medication without their parents permission, they are still a child themselves. Children should not be having children is the message in these two pictures.

The video is a PSA commercial to warn teenagers about teen pregnancy. It is almost corny to watch in the beginning with all of the lights and how fake the couple is acting. It is a scene at a party which is supposed to allow teenagers to be able to relate to. It is something that everyone wants to be at and do. All they are doing is kissing and then it shows them with a crib at the end. It is implied that just from kissing, things can get very serious and a young couple can end up with a child in the end and the party and fun is over. The reason its a distractor ad also is because of the animation and the simple message not to get involved in teen pregnancy.

Fear-Inducing Message

Teen pregnancy is not a laughing matter. It can ruin your life and take everything from you. Everyone is susceptible to this problem, no exceptions. The second picture is supposed to represent a girl that looks familiar. That girl could be me, you, or someone you date. The first picture is a homeless pregnant teen. This could have resulted in pregnancy and not enough income to support yourself AND another person. There is always peer pressure in young relationships to take the next step. Even if you think you are in love, never let anyone pressure you into doing something you do not feel 100% comfortable doing. If they pressure you, that is NOT love. If you decide to engage in sexual intercourse, you must protect yourself because pregnancy WILL happen, even the first time. If you take the time to get informed at places like Planned Parenthood, or your school's wellness education center, then pregnancy is preventable. There are so many types of contraceptives out there these days that if one is not working, there are plenty more to try. It is free, easy, and confidential for everyone.

Unwanted pregnancy causes many problems. It tears apart families and young girls lives. Many times their boyfriends leave them because they do not feel the direct results of the pregnancy and they do not know how to be adults and deal with the situation. Also, there is no more time for a social life, no time to go out with friends, and no time to do things to better yourself. The responsibilities of taking care of a child are endless. You need an income to care for a child because they are extremely expensive. You need to know HOW to take care of a child. If you yourself are barely old enough to take care of yourself, how are you going to take care of a child? Many young people are misinformed and uneducated about teen pregnancy, which also leads to pregnancy. It CAN and WILL happen on the very first time. If you do not protect yourself with contraceptives or abstinence, you WILL get pregnant, no if's and's or but's about it. Just because you think you are in love and you want to make someone happy, engaging in sexual intercourse is not the answer. If you use protection and are informed, then you will not get pregnant. Even if you do happen to engage in sexual activity and become pregnant as a result, if you are informed there are steps to take to absolve the problem. There is Plan B, which is a 72 hour contraceptive post unprotected sexual activity. Also, abortion and adoption are valuable alternatives to raising a child. To stay away from teen pregnancy, there are many steps to take. One would be getting informed, either from your school, Planned Parenthood, an adult you trust, or any safe facility administering medical assistance. Also, talking to your boyfriend, or trusting your boyfriend not to pressure you into doing anything you do not feel comfortable doing. You can also just say NO!!