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Image of a teenage girl finding out she is pregnant. (Castillo, 2012)
The focus of this blog is based on teenage pregnancy and how current media outlets are portraying this issue within society. Reflections on the negative stigma attached to the portrayal of teenagers and pregnancy are also discussed in order to present how this may have impacted current messages within the media. For the purpose of this blog two newspapers written by the Daily Mail and The Guardian will provide the basis of the discussion, and issues surrounding the representation of teenage pregnancy is reflected through the use of reality TV.
Newspapers are one of society’s ways of expressing health issues through mass media. By reading stories based on health issues (e.g. teenage pregnancy) the information included may alter the reader’s perception or behaviour from the collective thoughts and material produced. However mass media has been known to represent false information and deny an access of truth. From an audiences perspective it is important to recognise the legitimacy of media outlets and the validly of what is being portrayed (Seale, 2003, 514).
The use of language reflected in the Daily Mail article has constructed the topic of teenage pregnancy as being a problem in health care. Firstly it addresses teenagers as ‘failing to heed warnings about under-age sex.’ Not only is it stating the issue but introducing negative connotations by the terms ‘underage sex’. Throughout the article it uses this similar technique as it addresses females as ‘girls’, ‘youngest girls’ and ‘young people’ (Oakeshott, 2004). Within the media this may impact how the reading audience portray this use of language as it not only has its original denotative meaning, but it may portray an array of conative meanings due to different cultures decoding messages in diverse ways in comparison to others (Hall 1997 cited in Hanusch, 2008, 51). The Guardian take a similar approach to language by using terms such as ‘young people’ but this article differs slightly as it presents the positive effects of changes in regards to teenage pregnancy. (Hill, 2016).
From taking a closer look at these two articles it is stating alternative points of view regarding the issue. The Daily Mail is stating the complexity of the issue and how it is ‘soaring’ whereas the The Guardian focuses on why teenage pregnancy is lowering (Hill, 2016; Oakeshott, 2004). This could potentially be due to the different time scales of when they were both written but the effect of teenage pregnancy lowering could have been due to other media outlets such as reality TV.
The Daily Mail is classed as a tabloid newspaper which means it’s used for entertainment purposes as well as reporting stories involving scandals and humour (Nadkarni, 2011). The language used is also informal and in a spoken style (Eggins 2004,93 cited in Castro, 2017,4). However its reliability seems scarce as it has been debated that the stories presented in tabloid papers are purely for entertainment purposes rather than intellectual tendencies. Therefore the information published within the Daily Mail could potentially have an effect on how readers view teenagers and pregnancy as they may be reading false content through the use of sensationalising information content. This technique is used by ‘packaging’ certain information into publications which make it appear more interesting and appealing. In the case of teenage pregnancy the information may be amplified or exaggerated through the use of statistics and language creating a negative image from a readers perspective (Kozakowska, 2013,173-178).
On the other hand The Guardian is known as a broadsheet which is associated with quality newspapers providing a wide range of news coverage and provides a more in depth analysis of social and cultural issues. The language used within broadsheets is also highly formal. By using a formal style of writing it creates a sense of prestige which gives the view of it being a higher quality newspaper (Eggins, 2004, 93 cited in Castro, 2017, 4). By providing a more detailed overview into teenage pregnancy, it may allow the audience to create a judgement based on the current issues of teenage pregnancy without being swayed towards one point of view.
Shaming and stigmatisation is evident in the Daily Mail as it states ‘young people are now experimenting with adult relationships’ and ‘failing’ to follow policy in regards to underage sex (Oakeshott, 2004). According to Goffman (1963) stigmatisation is an attribute given to a person which is discrediting (Goffman, 1963, cited in Sloan, 2014, 9). The can have a direct impact on teenagers as young motherhood in the media is currently presented as a social problem due to the stigma attached. This means young women are perceived as ‘weak willed’ as the result of underage pregnancy. (Sloan, 2014, 9). Also from a readers perspective if negative stereotypes are portrayed on teenage pregnancy ,this heightens the risk of teenager’s having a stigmatising identity (Goffman, 1963, cited in Sloan, 2013, 9).
The two articles differ slightly in relation to target audiences. Firstly The Guardian is aimed at the Labour Party and a number of Liberal Democrats which is considered to be left wing. Conversely the Daily Mail is aimed at Conservatives as it takes a right wing approach (BBC, 2009). This could potentially explain the contradictory viewpoints as they are presented at opposite ends of the polarised spectrum. For example the Daily Mail state individuals from Family Values Campaigners believe the use of condoms and sex education is encouraging ‘promiscuous behaviour’ (Oakeshott, 2004). However The Guardian are promoting the use of sex education to teach teenagers on issues surrounding pregnancy (Hill, 2016).
By focusing on The Guardian it shows how various professionals working closely alongside teenage pregnancy were included in the article. Examples include the Director of Teenage Pregnancy Knowledge Exchange, member of the sexual health charity, Cornwall County Council and Cornwall’s teenage pregnancy and sexual health co-coordinator. It also incorporated young people’s views through a survey (Hill, 2016). By linking teenagers into the article it may allow for a more coherent view on the matter of teenage pregnancy and allows teenagers to state their own perspectives instead of it only being shaped by the media.
However individuals mentioned in the Daily Mail article appear to be given a vague description which questions its validity (Oakeshott, 2004). For example it mentions how critics believe younger people are experimenting with adult relationships but from a reader’s perspective, there is little understanding of who these critics really are. Also it mentions comments made by an MP of the Liberal Democrats but does not provide counterarguments from any other political parties view on the matter. Other mentions include supporters of the new sex education policy and the Family Planning Association (Oakeshott, 2004).
The imagery represented in The Guardian shows a faded image of a girl who appears to be of a young age holding a pregnancy test. This suggests it is the focal point of the picture (Hill, 2016). As a media technique pictures are used to uphold a sense of emotion and realism to the story which sometimes cannot be achieved by only using text (Cope et al., 2005, 8). The impact this can have on an audience is making an emotional connection towards the issue which is represented. This may also have an impact on the reader’s attitude. Pictures are also suggested to give an assumption on the expectations on what is held within a message (Singh et al., 2000 cited in Cope et al., 2005, 5).For example in The Guardian the woman’s emotion on her face is quite solemn showing the negativity attached to the issue addressed. Newspapers rely on these types of elements as there is an attraction towards the use of headlines and pictures. This can ultimately create a connection between the reader and the article.
Image represented in The Guardian (Hill, 2016)
The debate behind reality TV programmes is centred on how much of its content is actually a portrayal of reality and whether it presents authenticity. The term itself is believed to be contradictory as reality is supposedly based on individual’s feelings towards something but however, the reality is merely suppressed in these types of shows as they are based on planned out scenarios and used for entertainment purposes (Mast, 2016, 901-903).
For example by focusing on the reality TV show 16 and Pregnant, it is suggested to be a way of providing information based on the experiences of young mothers whilst educating teenagers on the use of contraception and sexual intercourse.(16 and Pregnant, 2014). As this is mainly aimed at a teenage age group, the impact of this reality TV show may have been trying to shock teenagers of the negative influences of motherhood such as emotional struggles and issues concerning finance and strains on relationships (Trudeau, 2016, 975-979).
This video shows some of the issues teenage mothers experience during their pregnancy. (Youtube,2012).
One way of portraying this was through the use of imagery (Dolgen, 2011 cited in Trudeau, 2016, 979). Images represented on the television can have a major impact on viewers. Viewers are more likely to remember the imagery from the television screen rather than the information which is produced. However once they refer back to what they have witnessed on the television it is likely they will associate the pictures to the information. This is due to an image being able to capture the attention of its viewers which can create an emotional relay soon after. Depending on how people reflect on the issues represented within the programme it could potentially evoke feelings of negativity towards teenage pregnancy (Newhagen and Reeves, 1992 cited in Cope et al., 8-9).
One theory which could potentially link to this is the effects model which could also be referred to as the hypodermic syringe model. This focuses on what the media content does in order to have an effect on its audience with the assumption of power lying in the content of its language. This model works by the meanings of the language having an impact on its audience which is supposedly injected or ‘syringed’ by the powerful likes of the media (Branston and Stafford, 2010, 382). However in relation to this reality television programme, it seem to have had a positive influence as there has been evidence of an increase in teenager’s perceptions and attitudes towards sexual activity with an increase in contraception but a reduction in birth rates amongst this age group (Trudeau, 2016, 976).
Image of the reality TV show 16 and Pregnant. (Johnson, 2011)
Individuals who are included throughout various episodes within the series of 16 and Pregnant include teenager’s parents, boyfriends, other family members and friends (16 and Pregnant, 2014). For the basis of the various stories within the series it may not rely on other people being present as it is based on a personal story-line.
It has been argued the portrayal of these types of reality TV shows ‘glamorises’ the concerns surrounding teenage pregnancy. This is due to the teenage mothers being shown in the spotlight through tabloid newspapers (Kearney and Levine, 2004, 3600). A teenage audience could misinterpret the messages behind the underlying issue of teenage pregnancy as it seems to include a range of mixed messages. One example shows how pregnant teenagers state how if they could go back in time they would aim to take a different approach in their lives but the TV show then goes onto present the positive aspects of having a baby. This includes the attention received from others. Other misinterpretations of teenage pregnancy can include the teenager’s partner staying throughout the pregnancy and building a romantic relationship. These examples could be labelled a false sense of reality and could also be classed as ‘myths of teenage pregnancy’ (Harwood, 2014).
This could be linked to Bauldrillard’s theory based on ‘hyperreality’. It is formulated from Baurdillard’s models of simulacra which try and create an imitation of reality. However it isn’t really reality at all but a false sense of this is replicated through the media. This is often described as the absence of reality (Taylor and Winquiest, 2003, 183).
In conclusion there are a number of newspapers which aim to affect the audience in different ways. For example the Daily Mail is aimed at entertaining its audience whereas The Guardian aims to be more informative. The media messages portrayed from both newspapers show different outlooks on teenage pregnancy and uses the likes of stigmatisation and shaming. On the other hand reality television programmes such as 16 and Pregnant are used for entertainment purposes also but have been shown to be an informative method to educate teenagers on the issues surrounding pregnancy. This type of media outlet is also commonly related to as hyperreality.
Written by Emily Katie Porter
Word Count: 212o
References
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