EvaluatingPortrayalsofTeenPregnancyandRomancein Juno
LiamNeilson
St.NorbertCollege
COME336Fall2022
Dr.Kretz
Approximately⅛ofallfemalesintheUnitedStateswillbecomepregnantduringtheir teenageyears(Kappeler,2015,p.196).Thishighlightstheimportanceofunderstandingnotonly thefactorsandconcernsassociatedwithteenagepregnancy,butalsothevalueinconsideringthe perspectiveofindividualswhofaceitthemselves.Inthe2007film Juno,directedbyJason ReitmanandwrittenbyDiabloCody,theimplicationsofthistopicareportrayedindepth, allowingfortheviewertogaininsightintothelensofayounggirlfacingsuchaprominent concern.Theprimarymessagesinthisfilmidentifytheemotionalandrelationalcomplications ofteenpregnancy,aswellastherisksandresponsibilitiesassociatedwithcasualsex,which,in turn,willallowyoungerviewerstounderstandthenegativeconsequencesofsexuallypermissive attitudesandpromotepositivebeliefssurroundingsexualintercourse.
Thefilmbeginswitha16yearoldgirlnamedJunodiscoveringthatshehasbecome pregnantwiththechildofPaulieBleeker,someonesheengagedincasualsexwith.Intheearly portionofthefilm,Junoexplainsthatherparentsgotdivorcedwhenshewasfiveyearsold,and herbiologicalmotherisnotpresentinherlife;however,herfatherandherstepmother,Brenda, areherprimarycaretakers.Shethenconsidersboththeroutesofabortionandadoption,claiming sheis“notreadytobeamom”(Reitman,2007,25:10).Afterbadexperiencesatanabortion clinic,includingtheremarksofaprotesterandtheunsettlingfeelingsshegetsinsideofthe clinic,shedecidestotrytofindanadoptionfamily.ShefindsMarkandVanessa,acouplethatis interestedinadoption.Vanessaseemsenthusiasticaboutthechild’sbirth,whereasMarkseems relativelyuncertainaboutthedecision.JunodiscoversthatMarkhassimilartasteinmusicand moviesasher,whichbringsthemaconnectionwithoneanother.Throughoutthefilm,asMark andJunobecomecloseandtheirrelationshipseemstobecomeinappropriate,Junoslowly recognizesthatsheisinfactinlovewithBleeker,thebiologicalfatherofherunbornchild.The
movieconcludeswithMarkandVanessaseparating,Junogivingbirthtothechildtowhich Vanessatakesontheroleasasinglemother,andBleekerandJunorecognizingthelovethey haveforeachother
Throughoutthefilm,Junogetsincreasinglyclosetotheprospectiveadoptivefather, Mark.TherecomesapointinthefilmwheretherelationsbetweenMarkandJunobecome inappropriateandJunorecognizesthis,andMarktellsherthatheandVanessaareseparating. ThisbeginstocauseanincreaseofemotionaldistressforJuno,becauseoftheuncertaintyof whatsheisgoingtodoonceshehasherchild.Thispointinthefilmhighlightsthenotionof teenagepregnancyanditsimpactonateenager’smentalandemotionalhealth.Onestudy suggeststhatindividualsfacingteenpregnancyoftendealwithsevereemotionalalterations (Akella&Jordan,2015,p.54-55).Themoviereinforcesthisaspect,asJunodealswith emotionaldistresssurroundingtheuncertaintyofthefuture,touchingonthenegative complicationsandfeelingsassociatedwithhercircumstance.
Researchshowsthatmanyoftheemotionalchangesthatindividual’sfaceduringteen pregnancyhavelingeringeffects,andoftencorrelatetofamilialissues(Akella&Jordan,2015, p.55).Itisnotabletorecognizethatthereissignificantresearchillustratingtheconceptthata lackofmother-daughterconnectionthroughoutthedaughter’steenageyearsanditstendencyto leadtomoresexuallypermissivebehavior(Bowling&Werner-Wilson,2000,p.8).SinceJuno’s biologicalmotherisnotinvolvedduringthisimportantstageofherlife,itisrelativelyaccurate inregardtoJunoengaginginmoresexuallypermissivebehaviors,thusindirectlyaffectingher likelihoodofteenagepregnancy.Thisfilmoffersthisideaandseemstobeconsistentwith researchregardingtheimpactofalackofmaternalinvolvement,whichultimatelyallowsthe viewertounderstandandrecognizetheriskfactorsassociatedwithteenagepregnancy
Alongsidethemessagessurroundingteenagepregnancy,thefilmoffersaninteresting narrativeregardingromanticrelationshipsandsocialclass.Junocomesfromalovingand supportivefamilyofseeminglylowermiddleclass.MarkandVanessa,ontheotherhand,livein asuburban,upperclasshome,withaseemingly“perfect”life;however,issuesintheirmarriage unravelthroughoutthecourseofthefilm.Researchsuggeststhatinlowersocioeconomicareas, adolescentsarelesslikelytoidealizetherelationshipstheypursue(Harding,2007,p.360).This ideaishighlightedinthefilm,beingthatMarkandVanessaseemtohaveasomewhatideal relationshiponthesurface,yetJunodoesnotseemtoaimforsimilaritiesinherownromantic life.JunodoesnotshareorrecognizeherloveforBleekeruntilthelaterstagesofthefilm, suggestingthatJunoisnotidealizingMarkandVanessa’srelationship,andthusbeingaccurateto whatactualresearchshows.
Datashowsthatindividualsfromlowersocioeconomicclasshaveatendencytotolerate theideaofteenpregnancymorethanpeoplefromupperclasshomes(Harding,2007,p.354). Juno,comingfromalowermiddleclassfamily,seemstobeintolerantandhighlyfearfulofher pregnancy,illustratingadiscrepancybetweenactualdataandhercharacterinthefilm.Paulie Bleeker,fromasimilarneighborhoodasJuno,emitsparallelfeelingsofuncertaintywhenJuno disclosestohimthatsheispregnantwithhischild.Thisisprimarilyseenthroughhisnon-verbal cues,withanapparentshiftinhisfacialexpression(Reitman,2007,10:25).Thisdisplaysaslight inaccuracysurroundingthetolerancetoteenpregnancythatactualdataproposes;however,this likelystillpromotespositivesexualbehaviorsamongteenviewers.Reasonbeing,thereaction amongthecharacterstothisshockingdiscoveryfurthershowsthenegativeemotionsof uncertaintyandfear,whichpromotesanunderstandingoftheriskofcasualsex.
Previousstudiesdiscussingteenagesexualbehaviorshasshownthatmedia,including filmsandtelevision,generallyincreasetheirrisksforsexualintercourseatanearlierage(Brown etal.,2006,p.1018).Inthefilm Juno,therisksandresponsibilitiesassociatedwithcasualsex andsexatanearlyage,mayhaveadifferentaffectonyoungerviewersthantypicalmedia exposure.Thefilm’semphasisonthecomplicationsthatareassociatedwithteenagepregnancy offeraperspectivethatmayleadyoungerviewerstobelesslikelytoengageinriskysexual behaviors.Oneparticularstudy,examiningtheMTVshow 16 and Pregnant,foundthatareas withhigherratesofviewinghadareductioninteenagepregnancy,throughtheportrayalsofthe challengesandproblemsassociatedwithit(Kerney&Levine,2015,p.3597-3599).Similarly, Juno portraysmanyoftheimplicationsthatgoalongwithteenparenthood,likelycausinga similarimpactonyoungerviewers.
Onechallengethatthefilmfocusesonisthedepictionofthelonganddifficultprocessof adoption.WhenJunovisitsMarkandVanessatodiscusstheirfutureplans,shecomesacross howlengthyandcomplicatedtheadoptionprocessis.Thisisseenthroughextensivepaperwork andthepresenceofMarkandVanessa’sattorney.Junodoesnotseemtounderstandthisprocess asshecomedicallysuggests,“Can’tIjuststickthebabyinabasketandsendityourway?” (Reitman,2007,30:30).Theconversationimpliesthatthisprocessismorecomplicatedthan Junoinitiallythoughtitwouldbe,demonstratinganotherchallengeofteenagechildbearing.This messagedepictsachallengethatlikelywouldhaveapositiveimpactonteenageviewers, becauseitshowsaresponsibilitythatisnecessaryifanindividualdecidedtopursuetherouteof adoption.
ChallengessurroundingtheromanticrelationshipbetweenJunoandBleekerarealso prevalentinthefilm.Forinstance,Bleeker’smothersays,“YouknowhowIfeelabouther”,in
referencetoJuno,signifyingfeelingsofdisapproval(Reitman,2007,22:20).Amongother things,thisisonechallengethatthecouplefacesthroughoutthefilm.Additionally,Bleekerand Junohaveaconversationregardingtheirrelationshipwithoneanother,andBleekerstates,“We couldalwaysgetbacktogethertoo,that’sanoption”towhichJunoresponds“We’rewe together?”(Reitman,2007,54:10-54:20).Theirengagementofsexualintercourselikelyisthe maincauseofthemisunderstandingaboutthestatusoftheirrelationship,highlightingthenotion ofrelationaluncertainty.Thismessageimpliesanegativeaspectofpermissivesexualattitudes, andtheresultofquestionablerelationshipsbetweenteenagersbyofferingaperspective surroundingthechallengeofuncertaintyduringacircumstancelikethis.
AnothersignificantmomentinthefilmisJuno’sexperienceofthesocialnorms surroundinghercircumstance.Oneportrayalofoutsideperspectivesonteenagepregnancyis depictedduringJuno’sultrasoundexamination.Junomakesacommentimplyingthatsheis planningtoputthechildupforadoption,andtheultrasoundtechnicianreplies,“Thankgoodness forthat”(Reitman,2007,40:20-40:30).Thishighlightsthechallengeofotherpeople disapprovingofhersituation,andhercircumstancebeinglookedatasoutoftheordinary. Scholarlyliteraturesurroundingthesocialnormsofteenagepregnancysuggeststhatthereare differencesinnormsandattitudessurroundingchildbearingthatisdependentontheageofthe individualhavingachild(Mollbornetal.,2014,p.3).Thispremiseisfurthersupportedbythe film’sdepictionofJuno’sexperienceatschool.Thereareseveralothersituationsinwhichothers treatherasananomaly,forinstance,whenJunoiswalkingthroughthehallsofherhighschool andtheotherstudentsaredramaticallymovingoutofthewayandstaringather(Reitman,2007, 1:00:10-1:00:15).Thisportraysthenegativejudgmentfromothersthatteenagersexperience
whentheyarehavingachild,whichplausiblygivesthevieweraperspectivethatspotlightsa challengethatteensmayfaceiftheyareputinasimilarsituationasJuno.
Thefilmalsoidentifiesrelationalchallengesintheprospectiveadoptiveparent’s relationship.ThesechallengesareinitiallyemphasizedwhenMarkandJunobecome inappropriatelyclose,andMarkrevealsthatheisleavinghiswife,inturncreatinga complicationforJuno.Thefilmacknowledgesthemisunderstandingsaboutrelationshipsthat Junohas,whichisportrayedthroughsomewhatnaïvedialoguesurroundingMark’sdisclosure. Markstates,“VanessaandIaren’tinloveanymore”towhichJunorespondswith,“Well,you wereinlovewhenyoumarriedher.Andifyou’reinloveonce,youcanbeinloveagain,likemy friendLeah,who’sbeenwiththesameguy,likefourdifferenttimes”(Reitman,2007, 1:09-1:10).ThisnotionreflectsJuno’sbeliefsaboutadultrelationshipsonthebasisofher experienceasateenager,furthersuggestingherlevelofimmaturity.Researchsuggeststhatteens tendtohavehighstandardsforhealthyrelationships,yettheyoftenhavelowexpectationsforthe standardstobeimplementedinreal-liferelationships(Guzmanetal.,2009,p.4-5).Thisresearch isconsistentwiththefilm’sportrayal,becauseJuno’smisunderstandingofadultrelationships proposesahighstandardthatMarkfindsunachievable.
Theideaofmisunderstandingromanticrelationships,inpartbecauseofJuno’sageand maturitylevel,isreflectedindialoguefromJuno’sstepmother,Brenda.WhenBrendarealizes thatJunoisspendingtimewithMark,shestates,“Youdon’tunderstand.Markisamarriedman. Thereareboundaries.”AfterJunorebuttals,Brendafollowsupwith,“Youdon’tknowsquat aboutthedynamicsofmarriage”(Reitman,2007,50:54-51:10).Thisisfurtherreflectiveof Juno’snaïveness,andpresentstheideathatsheistooyoungtobedealingwithcomplicated matterssuchasmarriage,letalonepregnancy Thismessageinthefilmisgiventhroughthe
contextofJuno’sdialogue,andisavaluabledepictionoftheimplicationssurroundingthe misunderstandingsofromanticrelationshipsfromateenperspective.
AnothernotablerepresentationofJuno’simmaturityisthroughherdialogueand non-verbalcuessurroundingthephrase“sexuallyactive”.Shedescribesherdislikeofthisterm andnoteshowitmakesheruncomfortable,stating,“Ihateitwhenadultsusetheterm‘sexually active.’Whatdoesitevenmean?ThatI,like,deactivatesomeday?Oristhissomesortof permanentstateofbeing?”(Reitman,2007,15:00-15:15).Thistermisusedseveraltimes throughoutthefilmfollowingherinitialreactionandeachtimesheseemstodisplaysimilar feelingsofuncomfortability.Juno’sfacialexpressioneachtimethetermisused,alongsideher sighs,areindicativeofhermisunderstandingaboutsexualbehavior.Highlightingthis misunderstandingfromateenageperspectivelikelyevokestheviewertorecognizethat teenagersareunfittobeparentsatthisage.Thiscanbeinterpretedasahelpfulmessagewithin thefilm,becauseitidentifiestheissueofnotbeingsexuallyeducatedanditspotentialcorrelation tounsafesexualbehavior.
Eventhoughteenagepregnancyseemstobedeclining,theUSstillexperiencesa substantiallyhigherratewhencomparedtootherwealthycountries(Scottetal.,2020,p.582).In thefilm Juno,theperspectiveofayounggirlfacingteenagepregnancyisbroughttolightand offersauniquenarrativesurroundingthechallengesandrelationaldynamicsthatgoalongwith thisrelevantissue.Althoughthefilmhassomerelativelyunrealisticrepresentationsofthe toleranceandreactionstoteenagepregnancy,itgenerallyoffersaccuratepresentationsofthe challengesassociatedwithteenpregnancyandromanticrelationshipsbetweenteenagers. The messageswithinthisfilmregardingcomplicationsassociatedwithteenparenthoodandrelational dynamicsfromateenageperspective,allowtheviewertogaininsightintotheproblematic
natureofteenagepregnancy.Theanalysisofthisfilmisanimportantstepinunderstandingthe messagesdepicted,andillustratesthenegativeeffectsofteenagepregnancy,thuspromotinga helpfulattitudetowardssexuallypermissivebehaviorandtherisksassociatedwithit.Future researchon Juno isnecessarytoevaluatethedirectimpactonadolescentviewers,butmanyof themessageswithinthefilmseemtobeconsistentwithresearchsurroundingteenage perspectivesofromanticrelationshipsandthechallengesofteenagepregnancy,whichsuggestsa heightenedlikelihoodofpositiveeffectsonviewers.
References
Reitman,J.(Director).(2007). Juno [Film].
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Guzman,L.,Ikramullah,E.,Manlove,J.,Peterson,K.,&Scarupa,H.J.(2009).Tellingitlikeit is:Teenperspectivesonromanticrelationships. Child Trends, 44,1-8.
Bowling,S.W.,&Werner-Wilson,R.J.(2000).Father-DaughterRelationshipsandAdolescent FemaleSexuality:PaternalQualitiesAssociatedwithResponsibleSexualBehavior. Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention & Education for Adolescents & Children, 3(4),5-25.
Kappeler,E.M.(2015).AdolescentHealthandTeenPregnancyintheUnitedStates:AProgress Report. Public Health Reports (1974-), 130(3),196–198.
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Kearney,M.S.,&Levine,P.B.(2015).Mediainfluencesonsocialoutcomes:Theimpactof MTV's16andpregnantonteenchildbearing. American Economic Review, 105(12), 3597-3632.
Mollborn,S.,Domingue,B.W.,&Boardman,J.D.(2014).Understandingmultiplelevelsof normsaboutteenpregnancyandtheirrelationshipstoteens’sexualbehaviors. Advances in life course research, 20,1-15.