Portrayals of Fatherhood in MTV's Teen Mom
Location
CSU 202
Start Date
16-4-2013 1:15 PM
End Date
16-4-2013 2:15 PM
Student's Major
Gender and Women's Studies
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Email Address
Shannon Miller
Mentor's Department
Gender and Women's Studies
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
There are many harmful stereotypes about single parents. Custody laws often favor mothers, based partially on the idea that fathers are less likely to be able to “mother” children. Our society is immersed in television, and it is important to analyze this media outlet in order to see the types of messages viewers receive about single fathers. For this research study, I conducted a visual content analysis of the representations of fatherhood in the first three seasons (2009-2011) of the MTV reality television show Teen Mom. I analyzed the father figures for any potential stigmas and stereotypes, and the following items were considered: fathers’ job, arguments with mothers’ of children, how fathers were treated by maternal grandparents, adjectives given to describe fathers, co-parenting, and the fathers’ overall presence in the life events of the child. Research findings reveal that fathers were often given negative adjectives to describe them and were not the primary caregivers. These findings suggest that the MTV’S portrayal of fatherhood is overwhelmingly negative and perpetuate larger social stereotypes showing that father’s are not suitable as single parents. I believe after this study that we need more representation of fathers in the media.
Portrayals of Fatherhood in MTV's Teen Mom
CSU 202
There are many harmful stereotypes about single parents. Custody laws often favor mothers, based partially on the idea that fathers are less likely to be able to “mother” children. Our society is immersed in television, and it is important to analyze this media outlet in order to see the types of messages viewers receive about single fathers. For this research study, I conducted a visual content analysis of the representations of fatherhood in the first three seasons (2009-2011) of the MTV reality television show Teen Mom. I analyzed the father figures for any potential stigmas and stereotypes, and the following items were considered: fathers’ job, arguments with mothers’ of children, how fathers were treated by maternal grandparents, adjectives given to describe fathers, co-parenting, and the fathers’ overall presence in the life events of the child. Research findings reveal that fathers were often given negative adjectives to describe them and were not the primary caregivers. These findings suggest that the MTV’S portrayal of fatherhood is overwhelmingly negative and perpetuate larger social stereotypes showing that father’s are not suitable as single parents. I believe after this study that we need more representation of fathers in the media.
Recommended Citation
Echstrand, Brittany. "Portrayals of Fatherhood in MTV's Teen Mom." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 16, 2013.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2013/oral-session-09/4
