Chelsea Handler's Abortion Revelation - Do you disagree with the way media portrays teen pregnancy?

[Cafe Steph]

Chelsea Handler's Abortion Revelation Is Straight Talk For 'Teen Mom' Fans

Posted by Sasha Brown-Worsham

Chelsea Handler has always proven herself to be a brave and hilarious comedian, unafraid of offending people or turning them off with her "this is me, deal with it" brand of humor. But she took that to a whole other level this week when she went on the Rosie O'Donnell Show and admitted -- with no apology or remorse -- that she had an abortion at 16 and had no regrets. It was brave and smart and highly commendable. Those people who regularly watch Teen Mom on MTV could also learn a few things from it.

The fact is, there ARE other choices out there and if MTV does not show them, then it is good someone else does.

Even more shocking, though, was her admission that SHE wanted the baby and that it was, in fact, her parents who talked some sense into her. She explained:

 

I was trying to argue with them and they were like, 'You don't understand. You're throwing your entire life away. You're not having a child right now. This is not what our family's about. You know, you're supposed to create a life for yourself, and we want you to enjoy your life and not be raising a child. And we're certainly not going to raise it for you.'

It's the kind of parenting that is completely absent from shows like Teen Mom and is hugely inspiring.

If I were the parent of a teen, I would deeply struggle if my teenage daughter wanted to keep a baby. MTV's Teen Mom shows the perils of teenage parenthood,  but not the alternatives. The girls seem to exist in a world where there are only two choices. But that's no true. Being a teen mom is a long, lonely road and even parents who do it well have still missed some of the best parts of life.

It is not the life most would would want for their child and to many parents like Handler's -- educated, affluent, older -- it would be a tragedy to see their child go down that path. And so they were honest with their daughter, even as she was making her choice. They were not going to enable her to ruin her life.

For Chelsea to talk about this is very brave. There will likely be a lot of backlash and hate. But she is right. Her life has been very successful and she has gone on to really make something of herself and the reality is, none of that would have happened if she had been saddled with a baby. Why should she apologize for that? She made the right choice.

By being honest about her choice, she is putting it out into the media, to teen girls and to parents of teen girls. It's OK to make the choice that is RIGHT for you. Who cares if someone says you are selfish. Being called "selfish" is much better than ruining your life. And in the end, most of us want to raise children who have ambition and who see themselves as something other than parents.

Her bravery in telling this story is inspiring and her parent's attitude is equally so. It is the reality for many families and something that is entirely absent from the media portrayal of teen pregnancy. Not everyone loves being a teen mom and views it as a gift and there are other choices to be made.

Many will disagree with her parents, but their honesty is refreshing. They did not make parenthood schmaltzy or overblown. It's hard and if you do it too young, you ruin something very special. Good for them.

Do you disagree with the way media portrays teen pregnancy?

[Veni.Vidi.Vici.]

I find a majority of the MtV 'teen mom's' parents to be ignorant and low brow. Amazingly I've seen more maturity from many of the teen moms then I have from their parents.

[Rubberbiscuit]

I've never watched the MTV show.  I've noticed that the headlines in the supermarket rags are always about one or the other of them being arrested.  If that is a good example of what those teens are like, then they were too immature to be having babies.  Actually, I think all teens are too immature to be having babies. 

It is not fair to your future potential children to bring them into a situation where they will be neglected.  I also think a child should not be brought into a family before you can provide security for that child.  Your children at least deserve a decent shot at a successful life.  You need to love your future children enough to not bring them into the world before you are ready for them.  This is something that I have said to my children many times. 

If one of my children became pregnant as a teen, I would try to talk them into having an abortion. 

[kleea1969]

I do disagree and I highly support this story. If my daughter was to become pregnant (she is 15) I would act exactly how the parents of Chelsea Handler had. I would do all I could to have my daughter abort. I wouldn't force it but I would push for it. She has to have her life together before she can even begin to think of taking care of another.

I think it's disgusting how the media portrays teen pregnancy. There are living babies involved, precious little life's and it's a big three ring circus. It's not a wonder why we have the problems we have with crap like that being our entertainment. Shame, shame, is all I can say.

[Tanya93]

I actually like on the first 16 and Pregnant, they showed a girl who decided to do an incredibly loving and brave things by giving her daughter up for adoption to a family that could give her child everything she couldn't.   It was a nice thing to see.

[jllcali]

I don't watch mtv.

If my daughter got knocked up, I would help her evaluate all her options, but I would not push her in any direction.

[OHgirlinCA]

My mom was like Chelsea Handler's parents when I got pregnant at 19.  She said the same thing in almost the exact same words.  I kept my baby, though, and am glad I did.  Yes, it was very hard, but it was well worth it.  She is my only daughter and I can't imagine my life without her. 

I understand where a parent would be coming from.  Usually their child becoming pregnant at such a young age is not what they had envisioned.  If my daughter became pregnant right now, I would worry, alot!  But, I wouldn't push her into an abortion.  We'd sit down and discuss ALL of her options, and she would have to make the right decision for her.

I don't watch the teen mom shows.  I have no desire to.  With everything, the media portrays things, even "reality" in their own twisted way. 

[etsmom]

I can't make any decisions about abortion except in my own body.  It is not my place to tell anyone what to do with their bodies. But if my daughter got pregnant as a teen, I would be supportive of any decisions she makes. 

[trulyblessed618]

We as people are given free will to do whatever we want. All of lifes choices are in our hands. I think each persons choice is there own but I do think that we ought to teach young girls more and maybe other steps like putting them on birth control should be done. It seems to many young teens can have sex and suffer no consequence and society us pulling and teaching them that they can put a band aid on there wrong doings and just get an abortion because having a child definitely ties you down especially without any support system.

[Alysse24]

There is a whole lot of mess in this article...But anyway...

The media isn't obligated to portray teen pregnancy, or a teen making the choice to abort.  People need to take responsibility of raising their children to do the 'right thing' and stop letting strangers on t.v. be the parent.  Are parents really using Teen Mom or any other media outlet to teach their kids about sex and using it as an example for a huge decision such as keeping a baby or choosing abortion, anyway?  I doubt Chelsea Handler's parents wouldn't have referred to the t.v. to prove that getting an abortion was the way to go. 

[RowdyRoxyRainbw]

Why do people think having a child is "throwing their life away?"