Final Project Proposal

Over the past five or so years, there have been several popular movies that portray teen pregnancy. Films such as Saved, Knocked Up, and Juno bring pregnancy out into the open, addressing a subject that has remained un-talked about in the past. However, while these films succeed in bringing necessary attention to a common occurrence in today’s society, it seems that the issue of unexpected pregnancy is treated in an inappropriately light-hearted matter. These films often depict upper middle class heroines, all of whom have the support of their family and friends throughout their pregnancy. Little attention is paid to how having a baby might affect the future lives of real women. While it is a positive and worthy aim to attempt to exhibit a previously taboo topic onscreen, these films fail to accurately portray the more real and accurate aspects of teen pregnancy. With the movie industry’s false characterization of pregnancy, today’s young women may start to see teen pregnancy as an accepted part of life with great comedic potential, instead of a serious cultural issue.