bristol palin: pregnant in front of the whole world

Imagine you're an unmarried 17 year old high school student who just found out you're accidentally pregnant. Now imagine telling your mother. Kind of stressful, right? Now imagine that shortly after that talk, your mother goes on live television and tells EVERYONE, adding that you are definitely keeping the baby and definitely going to marry the father. Welcome to the world of Bristol Palin, daughter of Republican Vice Presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin.

While some have applauded Governor Palin for openly supporting her daughter's pregnancy, others--including two former head editors of major teen magazines and the CEO of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies--have questioned the wisdom behind Palin's decision to put her teen daughter in the media spotlight.

Former YM Editor-in-Chief Bonnie Fuller writes: "I bet that poor Bristol Palin probably doesn't feel like she has the right to object to anything her mother and father are doing or saying right now. Like most teenage girls she is probably insecure and is blaming herself for her own predicament." Fuller adds that Bristol "has unwittingly and literally become the poster child for her mother’s anti-choice and abstinence-only education policies."

Atoosa Rubenstein, former editor-in-chief of CosmoGIRL! and Seventeen, believes Bristol should expect "the protection of her mother right now and not be paraded around as a platform. She should have had the privacy to make her own difficult choices and now she has to support her mother's ambitions and policies regardless of what she wants for herself — she's been thrown under a bus."

Sarah Brown, the CEO of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies, worries that Governor Palin's handling of the situation could be seen as "normalizing" teen pregnancy, presenting it as a viable decision during one's teen years.

What does Bristol herself think about all this? Who knows? She has yet to make a public statement about her pregnancy.

So, what do you think? Is Bristol is making her own decisions or is she being pushed into early motherhood and marriage by her mom and/or the public? Do you think it's reasonable to expect your private life to remain private when you’re the daughter of a politician? What would you do if you were Bristol?

Posted by Heather Bradley, gURL staff member

Comments

[Bananaphone]

I think the main point of this blog (someone farther down referred to it as BS), is on the point of privacy.
Bristol was in a tough place. Her family obviously doesn't approve of sex before marriage, and here her mother is running for public office making it very plain how she feels about sex ed. It would be tough to confront her mother and explain to her that she'd made a mistake. How do you tell your mother that you'd gone against your family "morals" and now you would be paying for it for the next 18 years?
Sarah Palin attempted to get it out in the media on her terms, I think. Say, "Yeah, we know about it. It happens, and we're going to be responsible about it." But I think it also threw her daughter in the spotlight even more.

It's a catch-22. The press would have caught on eventually. But, it's not exactly easy to "out" Bristol without drawing just as much attention.

Personally, I think the whole thing has been unfair to Bristol. It can't be easy to be coping with the consequences of your actions in the public eye. But, because of who her mother is, there was no preventing it.

...I take that back. There could have been some prevention. Proper sex education in our schools, the RIGHT to discuss with your doctor and counselor about the option of abortion vs. adoption, and a more responsible role in parents in explaining sex. Sometimes, mistakes happen. And if you're willing to keep the baby, all the power to you. But the system needs to create a better way of preventing the unwanted pregnancies in the first place.

[Samantha from California.]

I don't think Palin could have hidden that and she would have been scrutinized either way but I do agree that she's going a little over board with how much she talks about it and that she's being hypocritical trying to tell people that abstinence is the best policy when her own daughter is pregnant.Obviously and this is proven that abstitinence only programs don't work and that when teens are having sex it's better for it to be in their own houses where they're parents know and they're parents know they are being safe.I was a little scared at first to tell my mom about having sex but now that I have it's much better and I feel comfortable at my boyfriends house because his parents know that we have sex and they know that he has condoms and TRUST him.That's the problem with abstinence only programs they don't show any trust in the teenagers and act like sex doesn't exist.Just teach your kid about protection tell them that you want them to wait until a certain point to have sex but if they feel they are absolutely ready to just come talk to you and then you wont have to worry about unplanned pregnancy,hopefully std's as long as they use condoms as well as the pill and you can just RELAX and live your life and it doesn't come as a shock if your kid does get pregnant and you can talk to them rationally about their wrong choices and they can learn from their mistakes.

[Sara]

Sarah is an idiot. The media displays her and even if they are trying to make her look good she still looks like an idiot.
I hate it when people assume that I like her because she is a woman. She is worse than the old fat sexist men because she is a woman herself and she does not stand up for women's issues.

[maddy.]

wowww.
sarah is not an idiot. the media has displayed her to be an idiot because it is covered with democrats. get a life, pal. sarah is a REAL PERSON. not some stuffy politician. obama says CHANGE! but the vice is someone whos been in office for over 17 years. wowww. anyway. OBVIOUSLY sarah wouldnt just decide to tell the world about bristols pregnancy. she talked with her first. -duh. and so what shes pregnant. she messed up. GET OVER IT. AT LEAST SHES KEEPING IT. no abortion thanks. 'you cant cover up the word murder with the words womens rights'. thanks.
-your great young republican.

[Tasha]

First of all Sarah Palin is an idiot. That's not the point so I won't go into that but if as the subject suggest that Palin made the decisions for Bristol to get married and keep the baby that is a horrible thing for any parent to do. 17 is so young and no girl should be expected to keep a baby at 17. I'm not saying that abortion is the answer there are other options like adoption that are great. But I think the biggest thing about Bristol being pregnant at 17 is that the abstinence only education obviously fails. Studies show that an all around sex education leads to teenagers waiting longer before they start having sex and less teen pregnancy. And you can accidentally get pregnant. Sex isn't just for having kids. Probably a lot of you were "accidents" it happens. People obviously don't want a kid every time they do it, duh. Sex is just a part of a physical intimate relationship and has a whole lot more to it than procreation. Also if you hate abortion so much, republicans, why don't you try and teach teens about birth control!!!!!

[Amanda Wilson]

For all of you girls who are under the age of twenty one and getting pregnant: you should have though before you had sex. Being a mama is not an easy job. But that is no reason to give up show all of the people who say you ain't gonna make it wrong. Step up and grow up. Be a parent to your beloved child. And remember all things happen for a reason. God loans you his children so take care of them. Be their for them. Always love them and never take them for granite. Don't ever give up it will be a hard 18 years but you can do it.

[Amanda Wilson]

i dont feel you should be able to abort an innocent child even if the mother has been raped. I know it will be a hard nine months for the mother to deal with but come get over it. An innocent child shouldnt be punished and not givin a chance. And for all of you baby killers who do abort babies i think you should be put in jail because abortion is just another term for murderer. It isn't fair. It isn't right. They should make it illegal in all of the world. but that is just my opinion

[Audriannah]

This is wrong, Brisol could have found out when she was more than 3 months wicth the abortion wold have been illigeal so shut up mrs.kaylie

[Mrs. Katelynn Q.]

If she wanted to abort it, she would've. I personally think Sarah Palin is an idiot; if you really listen to her speak she doesn't say anything important, she just blabs on.

My ideas on aobrtion: If you have been raped or molested, you shouldn't be forced to carry around a reminder for you for nine months, then give it up to strangers; its like giving a person a fake life. What happens when they grow up and realise they were adopted? Or, if they were kept a secret, they would grow up with some fake identity and never really be who they are? Thats not right.

If you have been abused, you should get one. If you're in a situation where you can't afford the baby but know you would get attach so adoption won't work, you should get one.

But if your a dumb teenager who didn't use protection and don't really care about your life, well, deal with the consequences.

As we can clearly see, "abstinance only" doesn't work. The States have the higest rate of teen pregnancy. GET BIRTH CONTROL !

[nessa]

rofl. i see abstinence-only education worked in the palin household.. or igloo. xD

[nessa]

rofl. i see abstinence-only education worked in the palin household.. or igloo. xD

[libbie marie]

i admire bristol for not trying to hide anything. i mean her mom wouldn't tell the world without talking to bristol first. i think she is a great example of being a teen mother and proud. i mean you can't just sink into the cowarly pit of abortion to hide the shame and pain of pregnancy. you had sex, that was your choice, but sex can lead to children. and instead of getting rid of your shame by getting rid of the child you should stand up there proud and say "my baby is going to be born! it is not going to be disposed of in an abortion clinic!" if i were bristol, i would be proud that my child was going to come into the world.

[Melody]

PS- I hate Sarah Palin.

[Melody]

PRO-CHOICE!!! I am a firm believer in the phrase, "My body, My rights". I AM A STRICT DEMOCRAT!!!

Thank you, I've said my part now.

[laurynjm]

how the hell do u accidently get pregnant?

[Cora]

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with what Sarah Palin did to her daughter. She's 17! She shouldn't have a baby. She should get her life straightened out first. On the other hand if her daughter was smart she's learn to fight her own battles and do what's right for her. If she didn't agree with her mother she should have went to a free clinic to get an abortion when there was still time if not then tough luck. I don't agree with the whole sex is only for making babies speech. Its for pleasure too. They wouldn't make condoms and other contraceptives if sex didn't feel so good and was only to make babies. Btw anyone who voted for Sarah Palin as our vice president is obvious thick skulled. did you really think that someone like that would make a good first woman vice president let alone a good vice president in the first place? She so stupid that she claims she can see Russia from Alaska. also how stupid is she going on snl if its evident that everyone on the show is against her. Tina Fey didn't want to be a part of that episode that's how much she hates her. anyone who supported her should go move to Alaska with her and see what's going on in Russia cuz technically if she can see that far she's looking into the future and you can also all have fun with you're stupid refiles and hunting and drinking whiskey and all of you're other stupid republican past times. LOL!

[Anita]

OH PLEASE...this blog is absurd.
Did you expect her to hide her daughter's pregnancy?

Why hide it? The media would have eventually found out anyway.

Or maybe you expected her to get an abortion and pretend that it never happened.

Either way, this blog is complete b.s.

[Breanna]

Pro-choice!!! Id like to keep my right to decide thank you very much....

[Zoë]

If she really wanted an abortion, she should have gotten one. She shouldn't have to ruin her whole life and deal with taking care of a baby when she's only 17 years old. And if she wanted to keep it then that's great-- good for her. Maybe she'll be happy being a teenage housewife.

But I know that if I ever got pregnant I would sprint over to the abortion clinic ASAP!! No way am I going to put my dreams on hold for a baby!

[franki x]

hey you all need to bak of frm stina she is expressing her feelings on the situation to be fair its nt our buisness as we all av sed and so i think we shud all shh for now ....... x

[ME]

i was right in assuming every1 talkin bout sarah palin and her daughter right? cuz if u aint wat the -profane- do u know?

[ME]

im sorry, but u guys r all a bunch of losers. how can u talk 2 fellow americans in this way? Im prolife unless the mom will die. PROLIFE!!

ps bristol and sarah palin did the right thing

[ME]

dude, first of all, Bristol is definately doing the right thing about havin the baby and marryin the bf. second, the media was attackin Bristol about her mistake and Sarah defended her, and reported her decision so the media would shup the -profane- up. This one sided article has made me very -profanely- mad. You r all just a bunch of democrats that need 2 get the last word. The election is over, Im sick of politics, get ur article that makes me cuss off the internet and maybe get a good reporting team that can get the facts.

[Ceinwyn]

I cant comment on what Bristol may have wanted and i'm not going to becuase I dont know her. More to the point the article is not about Bristols decisions it comments on her mothers choices. This presents us with the veiw that becuase Sarah Palin is anti choice and abstinance only eduction she may have told her daughter that she must keep the baby and she must marry the father. However it may have been entirly Bristols decision, she may have wanted to keep the baby and raise it with her boyfriend.

I personally think Sarah Palin was silly to use Bristol to push her beliefes on sexual politics. However that choice now cant be changed. Regardless we all have our own veiws and we are all entitled to them.

Personally I think if Bristol is happy she should continue with the pregnancy and her marriage plans. However I know in circumstances like that a young girl may not feel able to continue her pregnancy in which case it would be wrong to force it upon her. Though I know I personally would never have an abortion no matter how I conceived the child, I know it is the right decision for some people. If not on physical but also on mental health grounds.

[SPAZFISH]

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xxx

[rosesforthegirl]

Bristol's mom should have kept her daughter's pregnancy as secret, not to be shouted to the world. and secondly, Bristol should never abort her child, i suggest she must keep it, even my English and classroom adviser became pregnant at the age of 16 and she had a good motherhood, her mom should have kept the matter private in the first place.

In my opinion, Bristol should get married by now and continue her studies after giving birth to the baby.

[melany]

I personally don't like abortions but I also think it was wrong for sarah palin to throw her daughter out there like that..she shouldn't force her to get married! But I do agree with making her keep the child...if she thinks she's womanly enough to have sex she should be womanly enough to deal with the consequences!

[mrs square]

i hate sex. and babies.
but i especially hate nymphomaniacs
i say we hunt her down and spank her good
who's with me?

[nymphomaniac]

i love sex. and babies. whats so bad?

[Sarah]

HA. This is the most ridiculous article I've ever read. I'm really questioning why Heather Bradley had the nerve to write about this situatuion in her own ignorant perspective. For one thing, as it's been said before, why would you assume that Bristol wanted an abortion? Abortion is murder, and although I could go on and on about the genocide clearly going on in our country right now, that's not the point. The point is is that she's doing the right thing, whether or not she was forced to or not. And the moment she looks into the infants eyes there's not a doubt in my mind that she'll realize that. Don't screw if you don't want to deal with the consequences. THE END.

[Eve]

Abortion really should be your choice as grrls and feminists, personally it's not something I would do though. And I disagree with Sarah Palins political views. Just needed to throw that out X3

[michelle]

I'd love to know how the authors of this article were able to read so much into a situation they had ABSOLUTELY no part in!!!

How do the authors of this piece know Sarah Palin made the decision to "parade Bristol in front of the media as a aplatform"(the authors' words, not mine!) with no input from Bristol?

How do the authors of this piece know that it wasn't BRISTOL who made the decision?

How do the authors of this piece know that Bristol's very own belief system WOULDN'T propel her to keep her baby and marry the father ON HER OWN???

It's actually very simple!!! The authors of this piece make a habit of taking unbelievable liberties with the truth, or else flat out rewriting the truth to fit their agenda. It seems that they're trying to brainwash any of us kids that will read this crap!

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[missy]

Okay, so I personally believe that the situation could've been handled better if Sarah allowed Bristol to announce this to the public. It's Bristol's situation directly, not Sarah's. It should've been Bristol's decision of when and how to announce it. And about the subject of abortion...Sounds like a lot of girls on here are pro-life all the way...they would NEVER consider abortion. But, you can't just throw that out there, thinking that's the right choice. I, personally, could never get an abortion, however, I do not believe I have the right to tell another woman what she can and can't do with her body. It's her choice and her business. Nobody else's. Plus, you should look at a few scenario's--First of all, let's say a girl was walking home from school. She gets kidnapped, beaten, and raped. She goes to the doctor and it turns out she is pregnant. Why should a child have to go through the emotional and physical abuse because of some pervert?! It's not right. What if someone is raped by a family member and turns up pregnant? Let's face it, that child is forever going to be emotional and mentally screwed up in the head, the child would NEVER be able to live a normal life. And let's say that a woman finds out that the child she is pregnant with is severely disfigured from some awful disease and there's no cure. Now, I know it would sound bad if the mother were to abort the child simply because of it's disfigurment, but think of the child and what kind of life it would live. Forcing a child to live a life like that and endure ridicule for the rest of their life seems far more horrible to me. That's just emotionally torturing the child. What if it's discovered that if a woman were to give birth, there would surely be complications and she'd die. I don't think it's right to tell a woman she HAS to die because everyone else thinks abortion is a terrible option. So, before people throw out there that people who get abortions are bad people, or they made the wrong decision, think twice. You have no idea what they could've been through or what kind of situation they were in.

[stina<3]

HEY!!! :) IM SURE YOUR ALL THRILLED THAT I'M BACK... LOL! haha jk.
but seriously, im sorry if i offended anyone, my first post was a little harsh. but everyone was pissing me off by blaming people for bristols pregnancy, when in reality, it NONE of any of ours business!!! anyways i am totally against abortion because i no people who have gotten them and now they are really messed up (like mentally, im not joking at all... its a sensitive subject to me too because some of the people that im talking about are in my family) also i have 2 sisters that are 2 and 3 (im 14) and i saw all of my moms ultrasounds that she got while she was pregnant including the very early ones, and i saw my sisters feet and hands moving and i heard there heart beating... my point is that i dont understand how anyone could kill something so innocent and pure, i dont understand how anyone could kill there own baby... ( and i no that some people dont think its a baby then, but i saw it with my own eyes!).... i think that its murder and i dont think it should be legal! im not as heartless as i sounded b4... its just that its so sad to see girls get abortions and them have to have counseling afterward.. (and not all of them have to get counseling, but a lot, if not most do) alright well ill be back soon... byee :)!!!

[Liz]

My opinion is ... Sarah didn't have much of a choice in the situation. It was foolish of her daughter to be irresponsible [morning after pills anyone?]and I thought Mrs. Palin [love her or hate her] handled it well. I mean, she didn't have much of an option ... and of course she had to tell the media her daughter was pregnant! That's just silly. Her daughter doesn't get much of a choice about her situation because her Mum is in the spotlight but ... DUH! ... her Mother was running for vp - what the heck do you expect?

[Twilight]

For everyone arguing on this subject, learn about the situation before judging Bristol or her mother. Abortion is a delicate issue that can only be left to the woman deciding and herself alone. It's pro-choice; it's a woman's right. And to many, it seems that Sarah's a horrible person for doing that, maybe even cruel in her own way, but if YOU were going for a high stance in the government, the thing you need to do is let the public know about your family. If it's something like teenage pregnancy, then yes you let them know, but let your daughter have a say in the matter. Things could have been handled better, and given more time, but we don't know about what she was told to do, or even what to say. Until you've lived their life you can't say anything bad about their choices. All you can do is expect the unexpected and let their family handle their problems.

[woozyspankfox]

dear "for stina"

GO YOU! =]

xxx

[ami]

Well Jenny,
I support Obama, but I still liked McCain and his policies. Sorry to burst your bubble, but McCain isn't going to be president in 2012, he's going to be far too old and be stricken with many health problems.
And as for Palin, I'm sure the American people know what's best for their country, and will never elect the person who will cause the demise of this country.
GO DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!

[Sarah Palin Supporter]

I supported Sarah Palin since the begginging and am very pleased on how she handled her daughter being pregant sitch. She did did good, no wait she did better. This way her daughter was less exposed. If she never went on T.V. and said her daughter was pregant, media would have gone on for months following the daughter trying to bribe her close friends, putting on the front page "We Know Who the Father Is!", "Is Bristol Pregang? Are Her Parents to Blame?". Doing what Sarah Palin did only saved her daughter from more embarsment. So all of you people who think otherwise, shut up.

[Jenny]

Well I disagree. Sarah Palin would have been perfect for the White House. But It was Barack Obama and Joe Biden who were elected. So Shut your mouths. Quit yapping about something that is no longer an issue. Sarah and her family are back in Alaska for now. Just watch when 2012 rolls around John McCain and Sarah Palin are in office. This is rich. The reason for this is that Obama did something wrong and got impeached. Whoo this is rich. Impeached because he could not handle the zombie outbreak right. Yes there was a zombie outbreak. In a zombie outbreak Obama is a poor choice. :)

[arielle]

why would anybody want to kill a baby they're human beings just like you and me they is not just abortion so if you get pregnant think there is also adoption duh instead of going to get an abortion and ruin your body enough think there is a MUCH SAFER WAY DUHHH

[arielle]

omfg FOR STINA you are why we have problems in the world if babies didn't have a purpose then why are you here stupid. I hope you drop dead because babies show signs of movement and breathing by the 4th month idiot so tell me if babies don't have a purpose then why are you here today your parents could've easily aborted you but they didn't so before you think it's not your decision it's Bristol's so shut up cause there's other things to do than go and kill the poor baby like adoption agencies you dumb idiot

[mommy14]

hey, wow i could relate.. my mother told everone that i was pregnant and i was 12 when i was pregnant.. i feel so stupid and it was humiliating.. i was thinking why would my mother do that?? at least im not the only one..

[FOR STINA]

SHUT UP, I HOP E YOU DIE, I BELIEVE IN ABORTIONS ITS NOT MURDER WHEN A WMAN GETS PREGNANT ITS NOT A BABY TILL MANY MONTHS JUST A LITTLE CELL WITH NO PURPOSE

[brittany]

you act like bristol didn't know her mother was going to have to tell americans.
of course she knew. in case you forgot, sarah palin was a politician WHEN bristol got pregnant, and she will continue to be a politician after. of course she had to tell. think about if she hadn't, America would have found out eventually that she was pregnant, like when she got HUGE, and then what would have happened? america would have destroyed sarah and bristol palin, calling them liars and sneaks.

seems like it was a good decision that she told. and we should be ashamed for jumping to such conclusions, bristol palin, like all other girls who become pregnant, have a choice to make, and she chose to keep that baby (go girl!). as much as we would like to, we can't and won't ever know the personal details involved in their lives, and its our responsibility as american citizens to love our neighbors as ourselves, and stop making opinions about situations we know nothing about.

[kristin]

I can't imagine being in Bristol's shoes. I mean, your mother is a potential VP of America, and your a pregnant 17 year old. Personally, I think Palin was a bit selfish in this whole scenario. She knew that Bristol could be used to feed her own cause, and she took advantage of that. But at the same time, if my mother was a politician I would DEFINITELY not be having unprotected sex and risking going through an ordeal like that in front of the public eye. She is seventeen, and in all actuality this is completely her own fault. She made her bed, and now she has to lay in it. Even if that includes sleeping in the mess her mother has made for her. =/

[GillyBBY]

If you don't like abortion, don't get one. It's that simple. But no-one has any right to tell a woman what she can and can not do with herself. It is MY uterus and it is MY choice if I want a foetus growing in MY uterus. And no-one is going to force me to do anything with my body that I do not want, no-one has that right.

[woozyspankfox]

oh and if it's so bad and wrong to kill a foetus, how come NOBODY has argued against the fact that Sarah Palin goes HUNTING? why does a human baby have any more right to live than fuzzy bears and flappy pheasents?
sarah palin? pro-life? dont make me sick.
what a hypocritical witch.
LOVE YOU
xoxoxoxoxo

[woozyspankfox]

woah! stina!!! mellow down, bubz!!! i am liberal, but i dont appreciate being refered to as a freak. take a chill pill, lovey. if i want to kill my foetus i can! and i think it should be the PARENTS choice not you square crazeballs.
LOVE YOU
xoxoxoxox