"What's the Prognosis Fertile Myrtle?"

46% of teenagers in high school have had sex and teen pregnancy percentages are high among these youth (Collins, 2003).  A statistic like that should be alarming to anyone who reads it including parents, adolescents, public health officials, and media producers.  Collins mentions that a factor in this profound statement could be consumption of media.  There is great controversy in research on whether media contributes to sexual risk among adolescents, or if media is a healthy educator of sex.  Many television shows and movies portray sexual intercourse, but most do not show or discuss the risks involved such as sexually transmitted diseased or unintended pregnancies.  Most do not even do the liberty of having the characters put on a condom.  However, one movie in particular not only shows the possible consequences of unprotected sex, but the entire plot revolves around it.

In 2007, the movie Juno was released starring Michael Cera and Ellen Page.  This film depicts the innocent relationship between two high schoolers and their immediate complicated lives following an unexpected turn of events when Juno (Ellen Page) gets pregnant.  The movie follows the life tribulations some teenagers face after an unexpected pregnancy on whether one should keep a baby, give it up for adoption, or not keep the baby (abortion).  What makes this movie special is the fact that it portrays a "realistic" life in which teens who do not partake in safe sex may have to pay the consequences, a "realistic" life that many movies and other forms of media fail to depict.  

Juno is a form of media that supports Collins' theory in that media is a healthy sexual educator, just like the television show Friends.  Collins talks about how, "rather than substituting for parents, television may act as a catalyst to conversation, giving parents and their children an entrée to topics they find difficulty to broach with one another" (2003).  A movie like Juno is definitely an opportunity for adolescents to talk to their parents about issues regarding sexual intercourse and other problems high school teens have involving relationships and such.  By giving the movie a comedic feel to it, the director lightens the mood and teaches adolescents the many positive options teens have when dealing with sexual issues.  However, some may take this comedic feel and flip it on its head.  Playing devil's advocate, some teens may take this comedic light-hearted-ness and internalize a message of casualness and ease if one does have to deal with an unexpected pregnancy. Something that should not be taken lightly. However, I believe that most do not get that message.  Ultimately, I believe that Juno indubitably checks off as a positive source of healthy sexual education for adolescents, and that "is a doodle and you cant undid home skillet."

Collins, R. L., Elliott, M. N., Berry, S. H., Kanouse, D. E., & Hunter, S. B. (2003). Entertainment television as a healthy sex educator: The impact of condom-efficacy information in an episode of Friends. Pediatrics, 112(5), 1115-1121. doi: 10.1542/peds.112.5.1115