What is the Big Deal About Sarah Palin's Daughter Being Pregnant?

What is the big deal about new vice president elect Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol Palin being pregnant? It seems today there is an outpour of media attention on this occurrence. Now that Jamie Lynn Spears has had a little girl at the age of 17 it appears like the public can't get enough of this topic. Look at the high schools nearest you. It is almost a guarantee that you will find 4 or 5 pregnant teenage girls. It is so common but people are still shocked at this happening and are quick to pass judgment on these girls.

Three months after I turned 17 I realized I hadn't started my period that month. I kept waiting and waiting but nothing ever happened. I purchased a pregnancy test and took it to my cousin's house with my boyfriend. I knew there was no way I could be pregnant, I didn't figure we were going far enough that it was possible. Well, it only takes one sperm and one time so the odds can be against you. That freaking stick showed a pink line where it shouldn't have- and the next test did, too. Well, there it was, somehow it had happened- what would I do now?

The next nine months were full of many different kinds of reactions from others. Becoming pregnant at 17 is always shocking to others- but it is especially so if you are on the honor roll, coronation court, co-captain of the danceline, and a member of a Baptist church. Of course everyone at my high school had a field day with it, some were open about it and asked questions which I gladly answered, knowledge is power and I wanted them to know it could happen to them too. Others whispered behind my back and treated me differently. Teachers openly discussed my situation with students and gladly stated their opinion in the matter. I couldn't believe that people who did the same things I did thought they were better than me. What surprised me more than anything else was realizing how judgmental I had been to other girls in my school that had gotten pregnant when I was no better than them. It showed me I needed to work on my own tolerance to set an example.

Thank goodness I graduated by the times I was 5 months pregnant. I couldn't have stood walking through the halls with my belly. As it was I barely showed when I got out of school and that was such a relief, I was even able to hide it until a month before graduation. My daughter was born on September 4, 2001, and she was and still is perfect. I was very lucky to have a good boyfriend who stayed by me and married me three years later. As good as everything turned out for me, though, my thoughts continually stray to that time. The time when I seemed to be the worst, trashiest, sinful girl in the world instead of what I actually was- a confused, misinformed girl who just wanted to do what her friends were doing so she would fit in better with them.

My heart goes out to this poor girl. When I think back to how hard it was having my whole school and church condemn me I can't imagine how it would be to have a whole nation gossiping, and speculating about me; a nation feeding itself with rumors and judgments. Let's not forget about what this even stemmed from: a presidential election. What does this 17 year old girl have to do with her mother's possible election? Nothing. I think we as Americans need to get a grip and quit fueling this obsession. TV shows like The Secret Life of an American teenager only glamorize this phenomenon. As a country we need to go out and educate these girls about pregnancy and try to get these climbing statistics down instead of trying to profit from it. I fear the future will only bring more of this same behavior, both from teenage girls and unrelenting media. It is a problem that should be addressed for what it is, not something that is made into a "scandal" and pimped out for gain.