For me, that was the best line of the 2008 US election campaign even though it wasn’t spoken by an actual presidential candidate but by comedian Tina Fey (as Sarah Palin).
At the time, Palin’s then 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was heavily pregnant and the Palin camp had hastily announced Bristol’s engagement to the baby’s 19-year-old father, Levi.
You’ll be shocked to hear that didn’t work out. Since baby Tripp was born last November and Bristol’s relationship with her high school boyfriend ended shortly afterwards, the American media has been breathlessly reporting on the fall-out. Despite her family connections, Bristol Palin looks to be heading down the same path as millions of other teen mums: no tertiary education, stunted job prospects and a struggle to find her place between the self-focussed world of her friends and the heavy responsibility of parenthood.
Human melodrama aside, it’s raised some interesting questions. Like, do celebrities such as Bristol Palin and Jamie Lynn Spears (Britney’s 18 year old sister who had a baby last year) glamourise teen pregnancy?
And more importantly, can anything ever stop horny teenagers from having sex? Really, I’d like to know. Bristol Palin’s parents are firm believers in the abstinence-only approach which goes something like this: block your ears, close your eyes, wag your finger sternly and bark “just say no” at every opportunity. In practical and policy terms, this translates as denying teenagers access to sex education and contraception, banning abortion and hoping like hell everyone keeps it in their pants UNTIL THEY’RE MARRIED. This ostrich method worked so well for her own daughter, why would the former Alaskan Governer want to seek alternative solutions to America’s teen pregnancy pandemic?
Top Comments
I was really eager to have sex as a teenager. I first had sex when i was 16 with a guy who was 23. I didn't regret it at all and 6 years later i still don't regret it. I believe sex education is the way to go, teenagers will always want to have sex and after all, sex is a fantastic thing and it is only natural that anyone would want to experience it. Provided teenagers are safe and well educated about using protection and the possibility of falling pregnant or contracting an STI, i think that there is nothing wrong with teens having sex.