Posters with pictures of crying babies have appeared in New York City subways as a part of a new campaign by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to reduce teen pregnancy.
The posters bear controversial captions such as, “Honestly mom, chances are he won’t stay with you. What happens to me?” and, “I’m twice as likely not to graduate high school because you had me as a teen.” The campaign, which was unveiled at the beginning of March, is a collaborative effort by Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs and Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert Doar.
Other posters target teenage fathers, reading, “Dad, you’ll be paying to support me for the next 20 years.” The campaign also includes an interactive texting program and YouTube video featuring facts, games and quizzes concerning teenage pregnancy.
Bloomberg said the goal of this initiative is to show that teenagers with no money, job or college degree are ill-equipped to raise a child. Bloomberg’s previous programs to reduce teen pregnancy include requiring sexual education in public schools and allowing high school nurses to provide birth control.
“This campaign makes very clear to young people that there’s a lot at stake when it comes to deciding to raise a child,” said Bloomberg in a press conference. “We’ve already seen important progress in our effort to help more teens delay pregnancy — teen pregnancy has steadily declined in New York City — but there is more work still to be done.”
Teen pregnancy in New York City has declined by 27 percent in the past decade, although there are still more than 20,000 teen pregnancies annually.
“Teens giving birth before they are ready to provide emotional and financial support is not a good way to raise children,” said HRA commissioner Doar in the campaign’s press release. “We cannot dictate how people live their lives, and sometimes even the best plans don’t work out, but we must encourage responsibility and send the right message, especially to young people.”
Planned Parenthood has fought back against the PSA. The organization prefers a judgment-free approach in helping and advising young, parents-to-be.
“The latest New York City ad campaign creates stigma, hostility and negative public opinions about teen pregnancy and parenthood rather than offering alternative aspirations for young people,” said Haydee Morales, vice president of education and training at Planned Parenthood of New York City, in a press release.
Steinhardt junior Emily Senkowsky, a member of the NYU chapter of the Newman Catholic Fellowship, shared her opinion on the matter.
“If the government is interested in running these kinds of ads, they should also run ads that provide helpful information for pregnant teens: hotlines to call, places to go,” she said.
A version of this article was published in the Wednesday, March 13 print edition. Georgia Dudman is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].
Real Talk • Apr 16, 2017 at 6:26 pm
“The latest New York City ad campaign creates stigma, hostility and negative public opinions about teen pregnancy and parenthood rather than offering alternative aspirations for young people,” said Haydee Morales, vice president of education and training at Planned Parenthood of New York City, in a press release.
Seriously, this level of political correctness is exactly why Trump got elected. Yeah, no shit there’s hostility and negative public opinions about teen pregnancy – children having children is not a good idea, do we need to debate this? Uneducated teenaged girls who have kids usually end up dropping out of school and living off of welfare (aka our tax dollars) the rest of their lives, the children have no father figure and end up going the same way as Teen Mom, basically useless leeches pushing out more useless leeches on the government’s dime. As for “offering alternative aspirations”, it’s called how about they get an education and a job and learn to support themselves before bringing in any kids into this world!
Simon • Apr 13, 2017 at 10:33 pm
Let’s just ignore that teen pregnancies have been in steady decline for the last 40 years.
Brian • May 6, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Scare tactics and shame don’t work. The only thing this would accomplish is shame teen mothers so much that the alternative would be abortion or foster care. And who wants those rates to go up
How about just giving information to these teens and making sure they actually are well informed on birth control? Most teens don’t wake up wanting to have a baby. Does Bloomberg think teens will now have less sex because of this? It didn’t work when we tried to scare em by showing nasty std pictures. The older we get, the more out of touch we become with young people
Keely • Mar 22, 2013 at 2:43 pm
An aborted baby is 100% less likely to graduate high school! There are approximately 2 million families waiting to adopt babies in the United States, but only about 50,000 adoptions actually occur. Abortion is NOT the answer to teen pregnancy!
Tina • Mar 14, 2013 at 3:13 pm
The government provides as much help for the teen moms as they do for the mature ones; how is this unfair? The fact is that becoming a mother holds many more responsibilities than teens realize. This is a child, a human, permanent addition to your life, not a rebellious statement to your parents or something to hold over your boyfriend. These ads bring attention that moms need a feasible way to raise a healthy child. Not having education or money is not a good start.
Rjnox • Mar 13, 2013 at 4:02 pm
A good range of differing views with a very good one left til last. The children of teenage mums are only twice as likely not to graduate because of a lack of support from a inconsiderate, one minded government. Surely helping the 20,000 young mums should be their main focus rather than insulting them!