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Palin vs Spears Pregnancy: Why was it treated differently?
Lynne Spears is used to seeing her celebrity daughters, Britney and Jamie Lynn, at the center of media firestorms. But this week, Lynne was the one in the spotlight. She hit the talk-show circuit to promote her new memoir, "Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" (Thomas Nelson). "This is the mother's version, not a tabloid version," Spears tells NEWSWEEK, by phone from her Louisiana home. "They report an incident, but don't tell you anything about it. You know that saying that a picture can say a thousand words? A picture can also tell a thousand lies."
As Spears waited for her 3-month-old granddaughter, Maddie, to arrive—she's on babysitting duty on a Friday afternoon to give new mom Jamie Lynn some downtime—the elder Spears spoke with NEWSWEEK's Sarah Kliff about a specific chapter in her book, and life: her daughter's teenage pregnancy, which the family announced last December on the cover of OK! Magazine. Jamie Lynn gave birth to Maddie in June; not long afterward, she granted OK! another exclusive with the first public photos of the baby. Her mother discussed the tabloid coverage, where the media went wrong and why Jamie Lynn's pregnancy was treated differently than that of Bristol Palin, the teenage daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: When Maddie was born, Jamie Lynn was on the cover of OK! magazine. The story got a lot of attention and some criticism. NEWSWEEK spoke to OK!'s editor about whether the piece glamorized teen pregnancy. W e received thousands of comments, with readers coming down on both sides. What do you think?
Lynne Spears: Do I promote teen sex? Of course not. Do I promote teen pregnancy? Needless to say, of course not. But when it happens, you deal with it and you do the best you can do. And you know what? She's doing pretty well. But [despite] a situation that has fallen in her lap, she's doing exceptionally well ... What kind of pictures would have been more befitting? Should she have just not done anything and let the paparazzi clamor around ... day and night?
Sometimes, when you're a celebrity, you have to choose the lesser of two evils. So she decided to do the OK! Magazine, give a spread, give some pictures, and it really did ease off the paparazzi. It has lightened up her load a lot ... Did it make it glamorous? It showed her with some cute little shots, having some fun moments with her little family. If they call it glamorous, well I'm sorry. But everybody knows that once you get a new baby, it's the most cherished time of your life—but it is not glamorous.
One of the critiques was that Jamie Lynn never talked about the difficult parts of being a parent, like waking up at 3 a.m. when your child starts crying. [The complaint was] she only ta lked about the good, fun parts.
Of course she knows it's going to be tough. You might lose sleep. Or maybe the baby's a little difficult to organize. Or maybe you don't get everything done that you want to do that day. You know what? Maybe the reporter didn't ask those questions, I don't know. But you know what really gets me? What would really blow them away?
What?
We don't want this said, 'cause this would be glamorizing, but I will tell you a secret: her baby does sleep all night. What do you think about those apples? Maddie is the best baby I have ever seen. She is like a little angel. She's so contented. She laughs and she coos and ahead of herself with her stages. But of course we can't tell that because then we would just glamorize it more.
What's it like to hear so many people trying to figure out what role your daughter's pregnancy plays in society?
--More at Link--
Do you have any comments on vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol Palin's pregnancy or comments on Jamie Lynn Spears pregnancy? Do you think the news media treated the teen pregnancies differently? Lynne Spears is used to seeing her celebrity daughters, Britney and Jamie Lynn, at the center of media firestorms. But this week, Lynn... more -
The lesson of Bristol Palin
Bristol Palin's pregnancy may be the ultimate teachable moment. It just might not be the lesson that John McCain intended.
My first thought on hearing the news was: What was Sarah Palin thinking? Assuming, as the campaign says, that she knew about her 17-year-old's pregnancy and informed McCain in advance, how could she expose her daughter to the inevitable spotlight that Palin's vice presidential nomination would bring?
The unwed mother -- or at least, the not-yet-wed mother -- has become a more common (this is bad) and less shameful (this is good) phenomenon in 21st-century America. It's the unusual celebrity (the Hollywood type, not the Obama type) who bothers to get hitched before getting pregnant. The baby bump has become a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter.
Yet no one feels good about a pregnant 17-year-old, whether it's Bristol Palin or Jamie Lynn Spears. As Sarah and Todd Palin put it with decided understatement yesterday, this will "make her grow up faster than we had ever planned."
And it will be that much more difficult in the media glare. "We ask the media to respect our daughter and (the father) Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates," the Palins said in their statement.
As a parent, I sympathize. But as a parent in the media, I also know that the Palins assumed this risk. Anyone who watched coverage of the Bush twins' barroom exploits knew that the avert-your-eyes stance toward candidates' children has its limits.
It's naive to imagine, in the anything-goes Internet era, that Palin's daughter's pregnancy would go unremarked upon. It's also mistaken, I think, to expect it. Like it or not, Bristol Palin's pregnancy is intertwined with an important public policy debate about which the two parties differ and on which Sarah Palin has been outspoken.
Which brings me to the teachable moment: What should teenagers be taught about sexual activity and contraception? By whom? What access should they have to condoms or other forms of birth control? Specifically, is abstinence-only education enough?
The 2008 Republican Party platform acknowledges that "each year, more than 3 million American teenagers contract sexually transmitted diseases, causing emotional harm and serious health consequences, even death." It expresses support for "efforts to educate teens and parents about the health risks associated with early sexual activity and provide the tools needed to help teens make healthy choices." Bristol Palin's pregnancy may be the ultimate teachable moment. It just might not be the lesson that John McCain intended. ... more -
McCain fought money on teen pregnancy programs
WASHINGTON - Republican John McCain, whose running mate disclosed that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, has opposed proposals to spend federal money on teen-pregnancy prevention programs and voted to require poor teen mothers to stay in school or lose their benefits.
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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's announcement Monday about her daughter, Bristol, was aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's. Palin said her daughter intends to raise her child and marry the baby's father, who was identified only by his first name, Levi. The baby is due in late December.
McCain's record on issues surrounding teen pregnancy and contraceptives during his more than two decades in the Senate indicates that he and Palin have similar views. Until Monday, when the subject surfaced in a deeply personal manner, teen pregnancy and sex education were not issues in the national political campaign.
Palin herself said she opposes funding sexual-education programs in Alaska.
"The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," she wrote in a 2006 questionnaire distributed among gubernatorial candidates.
McCain's position on contraceptives and teen pregnancy issues has been difficult to judge on the campaign trail, as he appears uncomfortable discussing such topics. Reporters asked the presumptive GOP presidential nominee in November 2007 whether he supported grants for sex education in the United States, whether such programs should include directions for using contraceptives and whether he supports President Bush's policy of promoting abstinence.
"Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy," McCain said.
When reporters pressed McCain whether the government should provide contraceptives or counseling on contraceptives, he replied, "You've stumped me." McCain said later that he was sure he opposed government spending on contraceptives.
The McCain campaign on Monday did not respond to repeated requests for information.
In Senate votes, McCain has opposed some proposals to pay for teen-pregnancy prevention programs. In 2006, McCain joined fellow Republicans in voting against a Senate Democratic proposal to send $100 million to communities for teen-pregnancy prevention programs that would have included sex education about contraceptives.
In 2005, McCain opposed a Senate Democratic proposal that would have spent tens of millions of dollars to pay for pregnancy prevention programs other than abstinence-only education, including education on emergency contraception such as the morning-after pill. The bill also would have required insurance companies that cover Viagra to also pay for prescription contraception.
McCain voted for the Family Support Act in 1988, which passed overwhelmingly in the Senate and required teen mothers who receive public assistance to remain in high school and, in some cases, to live with their parents.
"Young parents who have not completed high school will be required to stay in or return to school to complete the basic education so necessary to a productive life," said President Reagan, as he signed the law in October 1988.
McCain cited abortion, sex education and birth control as some of the issues on which he differed with Joycelyn Elders, former President Clinton's nominee for surgeon general. He quoted Elders as telling lawmakers that abortion has had positive health effects, including reducing the number of children "afflicted with severe defects."
"As a father of a number of young children, including an adopted daughter who was born with a birth defect, I am deeply, deeply troubled by these views," McCain said in a 1993 speech opposing Elders' confirmation.
___ WASHINGTON - Republican John McCain, whose running mate disclosed that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, has opposed pro... more -
Obama warns people to back away from attacks against Sarah Palin's family
In the short time since the announcement from Sarah Palin that her daughter is pregnant and will be marrying the father of her child, reactions have started to come out with Barack Obama, taking the high road and declaring "families are off limits."
The statement issued by Sarah Palin and her husband Todd, via the McCain website:
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
Reactions are coming out fast and furiously from Evangelicals, supporters and even Barack Obama issued a harsh response.
Starting with Barack Obama's reaction when he was asked to comment on the news that Sarah Palin's 17 year-old daughter was pregnant, he said it was irrelevant to the political campaign and went on to admonish "I think peoples families are off limits and people's children are especially off limits, " as reported by CBS News.
He continued on to say that he would strongly urge people to "back off" further stating , "My mother had me when she was 18 years old,” Obama said, adding that families should deal with these issues privately. “That shouldn’t be the topic of our politics, and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that’s off limits.”
He continued on to assert that no one in his campaign is involved nor will be and he concluded by saying, "And if I ever thought that it was somebody in my campaign that was involved in something like that, they’d be fired.”
Other reactions coming out include evangelical leaders, who expressed excitement and immediately united behind the John McCain/Sarah Palin ticket within hours of McCain announcing Palin as his running mate as TIME noted last Friday when the announcement was made.
Dr. James C. Dobson of Focus on the Family issued a statement right after the news came out today, reported by ABC News: "In the 32-year history of Focus on the Family, we have offered prayer, counseling and resource assistance to tens of thousands of parents and children in the same situation the Palins are now facing. We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.
"Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I've been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I'm sure the Palins have.
"The media are already trying to spin this as evidence Gov. Palin is a 'hypocrite,' but all it really means is that she and her family are human. They are in my prayers and those of millions of Americans." . . .
. . . The handling of this delicate situation will be a true indicator of the "tone" the next two months of political campaigning will go.
(Full article at link) In the short time since the announcement from Sarah Palin that her daughter is pregnant and will be marrying the father of her child, ... more -
The Juno Effect
You heard about the 17 girls in Massachusetts and their pact to get pregnant together. You heard about how Jamie Lynn Spears got preggers at 16.
You've probably got your own idea for WHY.
Here to explain her view is Professor Jane Brown, Director of the Teen Media Project at UNC Chapel Hill. You heard about the 17 girls in Massachusetts and their pact to get pregnant together. You heard about how Jamie Lynn Spears got pregg... more -
Suspect in pregnant teen death had baby obsession
A woman accused of slicing open a pregnant woman's belly and taking her baby was obsessed with getting an infant and even had hallucinations of hearing babies cry after a February 1990 miscarriage, according to court records.
A few months later, Andrea Curry-Demus stabbed one woman in an apparent plot to steal her newborn; the next day, she kidnapped another baby from a hospital.
Curry-Demus, 38, of Wilkinsburg, was charged Sunday with homicide, kidnapping and related offenses in the death of Kia Johnson, 18.
Johnson's decomposing body, with her wrists and ankles bound by duct tape and layers of tape and plastic covering much of her head, was found Friday in Curry-Demus' apartment. A day earlier Curry-Demus had taken the baby to a hospital, claiming first that she was the mother and later that she paid for the child.
Authorities say the two women met at the Allegheny County jail on July 15 while visiting different inmates.
Efforts to determine if Curry-Demus has an attorney have been unsuccessful and no hearing has been set on the current charges.
Court records for Curry-Demus' 1990 criminal cases paint a picture of a woman apparently unable to deal with the loss of her own child in her seventh month of pregnancy. She was 21 at the time, and told authorities she also had miscarried at age 12. A woman accused of slicing open a pregnant woman's belly and taking her baby was obsessed with getting an infant and even had hal... more -
Newsflash: Teenage Pregnancy is Not Glamorous
I was standing in a bookstore yesterday and saw a young teenage girl beaming into the cover of a magazine with a picture of Jaime Lynn Spears and her new baby. I could tell she was enchanted with this illusion of perfection depicted on a glossy magazine. This magazine cover was simply another Hollywood fairy tale which lies about reality and gives teenage pregnancy a "happily ever after"ending. I was standing in a bookstore yesterday and saw a young teenage girl beaming into the cover of a magazine with a picture of Jaime Lynn... more
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Kids Having Babies | American News Project
Teen pregnancy is on the rise in America for the first time since 1991. One in three teenage girls in the US becomes pregnant. Recent media hype and movies like Juno give teen pregnancy a certain kind of treatment. ANP went to one health center in the Northeast of Washington, DC to explore the real thing. Teen pregnancy is on the rise in America for the first time since 1991. One in three teenage girls in the US becomes pregnant. Recent ... more
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Pregnancy Pact Phony?
Now why is it the original story on the Teenage Pregnancy Pact garnered so many views and comments but the follow-up story in which the pregnancy pact turns out to be perhaps a gross misrepresentation of facts, gets almost no attention?
The story had alright the right (or rather wrong) elements to inflame the public and start a buzz of debate - well, actually just a lot of name calling and most importantly blame-placing. A significant number of commenters on the original story here which got picked for TV chose to throw in a few disparaging remarks on the intelligence of Americans and or the human race as a whole as though a group of teenage girls was somehow representative of the entire nation or the entire human race for that matter. And somehow Bush's re-election was mystifyingly tied in with it as well by one astute poster.
It seems to be a case of a simple thing blown way out of proportion. The only evidence of a pact is that of those who are already pregnant to stick together to help each other out. Now why is it the original story on the Teenage Pregnancy Pact garnered so many views and comments but the follow-up story in which th... more -
Teen Pregnancy Pact---B.S. ??
Do you think the Teen Pregnancy story is B.S.?? The Mayor is basically saying that...
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Teen girls made pact to get pregnant
I am just waiting for Billy Graham to call on the US gov't to ban the movie Juno.
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Yet Another Example of Emotional Ingenuity
An article from CNN describes how teens in highschool in Massachusetts are getting pregnant on purpose, some sort of freindship pact.They were excited to have baby showers and apparently one of the fathers of the baby from a baby was a homeless man. And we wonder why we do not have enough resources. An article from CNN describes how teens in highschool in Massachusetts are getting pregnant on purpose, some sort of freindship pact.T... more
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Teen 'pregnancy pact' examined
A US city is investigating reports of a "teenage pregnancy pact" linked to at least 17 high school girls who are expecting babies.
A school clinic in Gloucester, Massachusetts, became suspicious after seeing a surge of girls asking for pregnancy tests. Jonathan Beale reports from Washington. A US city is investigating reports of a "teenage pregnancy pact" linked to at least 17 high school girls who are expecting b... more -
Pregnancy Boom at Gloucester High - TIME
17 underage girls are pregnant all at the same time at this high school.
According to officials, they all made a pact to get pregnant. CRAZY! 17 underage girls are pregnant all at the same time at this high school. ... more -
Shocking !!! Planned Parenthood Condoms Ranked Worse..
A new report by Consumer Reports confirms that Planned Parenthood distributes some of the worse condoms on the market to teens and young adults
These condoms failure could lead to a pregancy and possible abortion.
Please click on the link to view the results. A new report by Consumer Reports confirms that Planned Parenthood distributes some of the worse condoms on the market to teens and you... more -
Oh Juno, what have you done??
Teen pregnancy is a serious growing issue so, is the upbeat movie a simplification causing more harm than good?
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Cameroon girls battle 'breast ironing'
This BBC article quoted one mother as saying, "Breast ironing is not a new thing. I am happy I protected my daughter. I could not stand the thought of boys spoiling her with sex before she completed school," one woman explained.
Honestly, I think this is a complicated issue. The irony is that these woman seem to be trying to protect their children. I think we need to do more than just point fingers at these mothers, I think we need to look at a much larger social issue of abuse of young girls that has lead to such drastic acts of violence. This BBC article quoted one mother as saying, "Breast ironing is not a new thing. I am happy I protected my daughter. I could not... more -
16-year-old has triplets again. Now she's a mother of seven
That's right, she's only 16 and has SEVEN kids. An Argentine girl has given birth to her second set of triplets. Medical anomaly aside, people are asking why this girl, practically a kid herself, is having three consecutive pregnancies. That's right, she's only 16 and has SEVEN kids. An Argentine girl has given birth to her second set of triplets. Medical ano... more
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Is nine too young for sex education?
Parents in Britain could be sent sex advice packs when their children reach the age of nine, under a controversial new drive to cut teenage pregnancies being considered by the Government. The booklets would tell parents how to teach their children about sex, relationships and contraception. The proposal is part of plans to curb what is the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in western Europe. Another suggestion is to make lessons about sex and relationships compulsory in schools.
I think it's hard to pinpoint a 'correct' age to start discussing sex with children. I think it really depends on the child. I know some kids who would greatly benefit from a chat on the birds and the bees when they're nine, and some other kids who really weren't ready for it when they were 15. So I think sending round the advice to parents so they have the option is a good idea. Ensuring that they'll actually share it with their child is another matter. Parents in Britain could be sent sex advice packs when their children reach the age of nine, under a controversial new drive to cut te... more -
Consequences of Teen Pregnancy
Is there a way to change the trauma of teen pregnancy?
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Teen Pregnancy
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Teen Pregnancy
