COMMENTARY: Putting Baby in the Corner - Dancing With The Stars & Teen Motherhood

Trading diapers and bottles for a mini skirt and high heels, Bristol Palin will join the cast of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars for its 11th season.

Palin, 19, the daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, will compete along side MTV reality star Audrina Partridge, R&B singer Brandy, and former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, among others. 



Seizing the moment or ducking responsibility?

Her selection brings into question how she will juggle the responsibilities of teen mother and reality show contestant. It also begs the question of what kind of message does this send to unmarried, teenage mothers across the country?

Data released in 2009 from the National Center for Health Statistics showed significant increases in teen birth rates in 26 states, representing most regions of the country. From 2005 to 2006, Alaska, the Palin’s home state, showed almost a 20% increase in teens giving birth.

It would be interesting to know how ABC justifies casting the young mother on the show. Young women across the country leave their children each day to go to work as a necessity, not for a fleeting chance at television stardom. Granted, Palin’s son Tripp, almost two years-old, will have excellent care with family or hired staff, but this is not the issue. Teen mothers with less of a support system would not be offered this type of opportunity. This says that teen motherhood is okay, as long as your family is famous.

Of course, teen motherhood is not a death sentence, but does Palin’s participation show resilience or glorify teen pregnancy? This question will be left to her critics.

Her dancing will be left to the judges.


[image via assets.nydailynews.com]