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Graphic Video Aims to Scare Kids Out of Teen Pregnancy
My husband’s family lives in Ireland, and when we go to visit I’m always amazed by the public service announcements. I remember one from many years ago that showed a group of laughing friends in a car. The announcer says gravely, “In a few seconds, John is going to hit Mary so hard, she’ll never walk again.” The car crashes, John’s head slams into Mary’s, bodies are everywhere, and it all ends with John dead, Mary in a wheelchair, and an urging to “Please slow down.” Not very uplifting, is it? But it seems to work.
Now England is taking the same approach to teen pregnancies, with a video that hopes to show just how terrifying a teen pregnancy can be.
The video, designed to look as if it was shot on a student’s cell phone, shows a girl giving birth on a sports field while dozens of classmates watch. It ends with the caption, “Not what you expected? Being a teenage parent might not be either.”
Leicester Public Health officials produced the video to help combat the town’s high incidence of teen pregnancies; one in 20 girls between the ages of 15 and 17 are pregnant.
According to Liz Rodrigo, a public health specialist in Leicester, teens came up with the idea for the video, and suggested that a funny or shocking message rather than a “preachy” one would be more effective.
Well, they certainly succeeded on the shocking front. Watch the video below and judge for yourself. Do you think it’s effective? Or does it go too far?
The video is graphic (and loud) and not appropriate for kids (or offices).
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9 Comments
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amNot every teen mom gives birth on a sports field – but I was in a classroom with one when her water broke (as in the cartoonish stereotype of breaking that really only happens to what, 1 in 100 women, with a huge gush everywhere instead of a little trickle). That scared the bejesus out of a few people.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amMy son’s birthmom went through a particularly hellish delivery. That didn’t stop her from getting pregnant again (with my son). Being at my son’s delivery, which was no cakewalk, didn’t prevent her sister from getting pregnant either. If the real thing isn’t a deterrent, then how is a video going to be?
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amThe more I think about this PSA, the more I’m reminded of that iconic egg-in-pan “This Is Your Brain On Drugs” PSA that did nothing to keep my generation from using drugs. I wonder if giving birth on a football field surrounded by cheering classmates will become this generation’s hard-fried egg.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI agree with Lindsay. This PSA is just weird and doesn’t really send a clear message – other than that birth is some horrific freakshow – which I actually find quite offensive.
MistressScorpio commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amPlease. That’s not nearly scary or graphic enough.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI agree that teen pregnancy needs to stop being sugar coated…but how is this video supposed to be effective? First of all, how many people (of any age) give birth on a sports field in front of 20 people? Is this PSA trying to say that ALL teenagers give birth at school? Also, I understand that this PSA is trying to say that childbirth is scary, but that is true at ANY age. Going through childbirth is not easier or less frightening just because you’re 28 instead of 18.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amThe dead-kid PSAs make sense to me as a deterrent to unsafe driving. I’m just not sure how the image of giving birth on a football field surrounded by cheering classmates is going to work as a deterrent to adolescent childbearing.
The iconic egg-in-pan “This Is Your Brain On Drugs” advert did nothing to keep my generation off drugs, though we’re still getting a lot of humor mileage off it all these years later. I’m wondering if birth-on-football-field “Not What You Expected? Being a Teenage Parent Might Not Be Either” will be this generation’s fried egg.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 ami remember seeing that video with the car before. it was crazy. they also had one with a dead little girl which still haunts me. if these psa’s work, then more power to em. keep making them! someones gotta show them the truth. its time to stop sugar coating everything.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI’m not sure what to make of that. I agree with getting away from the preachy messages, but…
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