Do you believe TV glorifies pregnancy and parenting?

Question

I watch TV shows all the time and constantly wonder if non-parents (lack of a better word) think if that's what parenting or pregnancy is really like.

For example:

On ER you see woman have children, work and go about life as if the child had never came into their life.

On One Tree Hill there is a case of teen pregnancy where these kids (mind you only one has a job at a restaurant) live in a lavish home with really great furniture and accessories.

Even on "Everybody Loves Raymond" there are points where you see the kids and it doesn't even seem like the adult characters seem to notice they are there.

While of course these things do happen sometimes (in real life) that people have everything *great* it’s not really a common occurrence.

Do you feel almost all TV series convey parenting as glorious and not necessarily on a realistic level?

How do you think these shows effect soon-to-be parents and/or people considering to become a parent?

Answer 1

I do believe that TV glorifies pregnancy, but not just TV, all media, there is a baby boom going on right now with unwed Hollywood parents and this because of the famous having them, the public will want them also. Children look up to these actors and actresses and find that if they are pregnant a good way to get popular will be to get pregnant. This is going to have unwed parents hit an all time high.

Answer 2

Yes it does, along with sex, marriages, stay at home parenting, etc. I agree with the other poster though, if the media didn't glorify some things to a certain extent, then no one would be interested in watching their shows. So though I understand your point, I have to agree that glorifying things to a certian extent is not all that bad.

As far as your question about people wanting to become parents, I agree, a person could get misinformed about parenting, child birth , and etc. if they watched tv and did not use common sense to realize that this is just tv and in the real world, things don't quite operate like they are seen on tv. I think a person could be misinformed about how hard or easy it really is being a parent, giving birth and having a sucessful marriage.

Answer 3

Nothing on TV is realistic. But the baby on ER almost died to due prematurity complications. Also, the baby has two doctor parents, and we only see 60 minutes of their lives. And a plotline on ER also involved the mother constantly calling to check on the baby.

I can't comment on the other shows you listed because I can't see them, but I have two things to say on this topic:

1. TV also glorifies being a cop, a stockbroker, or any other aspect of a person's life that it features. If you made real life judgements based on TV, you would think 50% of the population worked as police officers.

2. Television is written to intensify (or "glorify") good or bad things. If things were shown with strict realism, the show would have to much longer to be able to develop characters and emotions.

Answer 4

Yes I believe that. I know tv isn't real and it is for audiences but it still makes me mad. Esp the weight gain part! I mean most people don't gain just in their stomach and keep this gorgeous figure and then jump right back into their clothes right after pregnancy.. showing their flat little bellies and all. BUT I will say that I loved on King of Queens (although she wasn't suppose to be pregnant on the show) how big Carrie got and just kept on acting. That's wonderful .. it was a reality of how pregnant women look when pregnant!!

Answer 5

I wouldn't say it glorifies it. We all know tv isn't real and since most sitcoms show kids once in an episode that might span several days surely people realize that in real life you will see your children more often as you have to take care of them. It didn't affect me or make me feel like it wasn't how I expected it. It wasn't how I expected it at all but it isn't because of false tv shows. It was because I had NO idea how much time a newborn would actually take up of my life.

Answer 6

I think most people know tv is not real, how good would ER be if the charecter was consiantly running her baby to the doctor, it wouldn't be the same or on everybody loves raymond everthing would revolve around the kids it just would not be as good of a show

Answer 7

Certainly! Television, media in general, makes being pregnant seem to be the best thing in the world...Its not really all that! They never show the harsh realities like the mood swings, weight gain or the self esteem issues that women and men deal with all the time when there are expecting... its very sad that people never really realize that pregnancy isn't just about buying baby clothes and taking pictures...In 9 months the BABY will arrive..what do you do then?

Answer 8

i do no longer think of the shows themselves glorify them as plenty because of the fact the magazines. i've got observed that at the instant, a rather good variety of magazines have had teen mom specials or in spite of. they're making teen being pregnant sounds proper, and that's poor. the time-honored public of little ones are not mentally arranged for having a toddler, and now they're seeing it as like an adjunct. they're treating having a toddler the comparable as getting a sort of handbag canines.

Answer 9

IMHO Tv Potrays everything w/ a dreamy like cast....
You bever see people with Financial problems...or kids pooing tfhemselves , or pregnant weomen whos hair is randomly looseing their hair in clumps...or kids attempting to flush , or dry kitty in the dryer....

TV Glorifies life...
Misleads all that think it is truth...
Eh , school dosnt teach yound people the truth either...

Answer 10

yeah TV makes parenting look easy and fun but its TV. I am a new parent and i never thought it would be like TV. It is just entrainment