New York's anti-teen pregnancy ads: Offensive or necessary?
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New ads have been popping up across New York with the very clear message that becoming a teenage parent is not a good idea.
The city government posters show various pictures of sad looking/crying babies and toddlers with accompanying quotes such as:
"Honestly Mom...chances are he won't stay with you. What happens to me?"
"I'm twice as likely not to graduate high school because you had me as a teen"
The stats say that 90% of teen parents don't marry, and warns parents that they should expect to pay more than $10,000 a year to raise a child.
Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC) denounced the new campaign:
“The latest NYC 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. “The City’s money would be better spent helping teens access health care, birth control, and high-quality sexual and reproductive health education, not on an ad campaign intended to create shock value.”
Do you think the ads are offensive as they put words into a baby's mouth, or necessary to warn youngsters of the reality of teenage parenting?
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