What's the "norm" nowadays: Teen Pregnancy ?

              Teen pregnancy is a topic that has caused much controversy. I feel as though as time goes on and the pregnancy rate increases more people are becoming accepting of these young adults decisions to be sexually active.On the other hand there are still people who disapprove of these teenagers decisions. There is always two sides of the story, but in my opinion, at such a young age, our focus should not be on what everyone else is doing or what is being conveyed as popular or a trend.

              On the T.V. shows "Teen Mom" and "16 and pregnant," pregnancy at a young age is viewed in a negative way. Viewers are finding their lives amusing while the participants of the show feel they are doing a service to other teens. In one of the episodes I watched one of the teen moms who had a child and was informed that she was pregnant again decided to have an abortion because the parents were not financially, emotionally, or mentally prepared to bring in another child into this world. After the season they would have seminars or meetings with other teens and the teen mother was telling other teens to use a condom. I was shocked that she did not bring up abstinence. I would rather be safe and not take a risk then doing something I should not be doing at my age. The television show that is supposed to advocate the prevention of teen pregnancy aired the abortion episode of Markai Durham an hour and a half later than the usual scheduled airing time. Perhaps the MTV network did not intend on creating a mockery out of a serious situation, but it maybe a latent function.

              I believe there may be reasons why the teens would attempt to have a child because not everyone is going through the same situation. In Emile Durkheim's study of suicide he believes there are three types of suicide. Each requires a different reason for committing suicide whether if it is for religious reasons or being isolated from social groups. Some teens might have an abusive household, a parent or guardian that is in prison, a parent or guardian that is not monitoring their child and who they surround themselves with, etc. The list goes on and on in this situation. According to Merton, abnormal things are as a result of the values and norms of society. His point of view was that value is success, which would be determined financially and the norm would be to achieve this success with hard work. In the current time these norms and values are always changing constantly.


              The deviance of teen pregnancy may not be so absurd anymore. Or is it? Although my perspective is directed towards teen pregnancy negatively, I understand the other side and have sympathy towards these young adults with difficult decisions. I could go on all day with this subject, but I'll conclude with this question,  honestly, is there a such thing as the "norm?"