16 And Pregnant

Last night MTV began airing a new documentary series, 16 And Pregnant, which gives a no-fluff look at real teenage mothers as they forge through the beginnings of motherhood. Read more about MTV’s 16 And Pregnant, and see photos and video here. All of the latest movie representations seemed to have fallen short of the reality of motherhood at such a young age, or at least the reality that most experience.

Teenage mothers have been the main characters of several recent movies, including Juno, and the Secret Life of the American Teenager. Teenage pregnancy was even brought up in the last presidential election, with Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s daughter giving birth just recently. But MTV’s 16 And Pregnant offers a glimpse into the lives of real underage mothers who don’t necessarily come from privileged backgrounds.

MTV’s new series, 16 and Pregnant, like most of their documentaries, isn’t afraid to show the real deal. The first mother shown, Maci, lives in Tennessee. Her boyfriend, Ryan, is a mechanic who works the late shift. Before Maci became pregnant she was a model student. She once had the time to maintain her grades, play softball, and be a cheerleader. But now that she is carrying her first child she has had to transfer to another school, and focus on her situation with the baby and Ryan.