MTV to Air Special on Teen Abortion Tonight

by Roxann MtJoy · 2010-12-28 06:00:00 UTC
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Tonight, MTV will air a special called No Easy Decision. For years now, MTV has had multiple successful series based on teen pregnancy — Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant, for example — but all have focused on on girls who chose to keep their pregnancies and become young moms (Teen Mom's Caitlyn being the one exception; she chose to give her baby up for adoption). Now, thankfully, we get a program that shows teens who chose something different for themselves and terminated their pregnancies.

While No Easy Decision profiles several teens, there is a familiar face in the crowd. Markai Durham, a teen who had a previous pregnancy chronicled on 16 & Pregnant, finds herself pregnant again and this time chooses abortion. As Jessica Wakeman over at The Frisky notes, this is particularly significant because women who are already mothers account for 61% of people getting abortions. No one can claim that this girl isn't making an informed decision.

MTV is partnering with Exhale, an after-abortion counseling talkline, to make sure that this sensitive subject matter is handled right. Exhale wants to make sure that those brave girls who shared their stories feel loved and supported. To that end, they have launched a major social media campaign called 16 & Loved, and there are plenty of ways for you to get involved.

First, you can head over to their new website and post messages of support for the girls on the show and all women who've had abortions. Next, be sure to become a fan on the official Exhale Facebook page. If you are on Twitter, follow @ExhaleProVoice and using the hashtags #16andloved and #provoice. Tweet some pro-choice love! When you are watching the show (Tuesday, December 28th at 11:30 PM), head here to join in on the conversation as feminist blogging rock stars like Shelby Knox, Feministing's Jessica Valenti, Women's Media Center's Jamia Wilson, and others live-blog the show. Finally, if you have the means, consider donating to Exhale, as they anticipate an increase in volume in both calls to their hotline and visits to their website after the show airs.

I am excited to see MTV take the first steps towards more balanced coverage of teen pregnancy. It is important for girls who have made this difficult decision to know that they are not alone and that they are loved. Their voices are every bit as valuable as those who chose differently. Watch the show and participate in Exhale's campaign to let them know they aren't sixteen and alone, they are sixteen and loved.

Photo credit: Steve Rhodes

Roxann MtJoy is a freelance writer who previously worked as a case manager at a domestic violence shelter. She is currently attending graduate school for theater in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

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