Bristol Palin's People Magazine Cover is a Total Promotion for Teen Pregnancy!

Bristol Palin, unwed teen mom of five-month-old baby Tripp, doesn't have time anymore to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. But the daughter of the Governor of Alaska has managed to fit a glamorous cover photo session with People magazine into her schedule.

While it's doubtful that she received a million dollar payout for her cover model services, she's doing even more to make teen pregnancy seem glamorous than the former "Zooey 101" star, Jamie Lynn Spears!

She may not intend to encourage other teen girls to follow her example, but with her picture perfect looks and adorable baby son, she is absolutely now the poster girl for teen momhood.

The inside article, with dreamy full page photos, might as well be titled, "I'm 18, a mom and HOT...and you can be too!" There's not one photo of an exhausted, haggard, harried, unkempt-looking Bristol, reeling under the enormous responsibilities of raising an infant, working part-time — which she is — and hoping to somehow continue her studies. Instead, Bristol appears tanned, rested and already fitting back into her skintight jeans.

Visuals are a powerful force. And more than words, they produce visceral reactions! So while Bristol talks in the exclusive piece about how "girls need to imagine and picture their life with a screaming newborn baby," there's nothing in the People magazine spread to visually suggest that life isn't one big happy bed of roses in the Palin household, where Bristol and Tripp still reside. There's not even a dish out of place, let alone a pile of laundry or an unmade bed.

As a mom of two teen girls, I can hardly believe the fairytale crock the Palins have cooked up about unwed teen motherhood, with the help of People mag.

Here's the reality check: Bristol Palin, despite her affluent background and mega-family connections, is still becoming a typical teen mom statistic. While she managed to graduate from high school — which is rightfully celebrated in the piece, since less than half of teen moms manage to do so — she, like almost all teen mothers, is giving up on her pre-baby education plans. Bristol had set her heart on a college degree in nursing before baby Tripp came along.

Soberingly, she gave up that dream, she says, because she now doesn't have the time for a long course of study. Instead, she'll settle for enrolling in a local college and taking classes with an eye on a "possible career in real estate,",and even this will be dependent on her ability to get free babysitting from her dad, younger sister and other family members. So she's fitting right in to the depressing teen mom stat — less than 2 percent earn a college degree by the age of 30! Nothing glam about that.

Furthermore why should Bristol have to settle for giving up her life ambitions? Why did she end up pregnant anyway? If she hadn't had a mother who was a huge public proponent of abstinence-only sex education for teens, and who was a staunch anti-abortion advocate, would Bristol have felt less guilty and more active about using birth control?

The Sarah Palins of this world, who insist that the only OK birth control for unwed young women should be abstinence, are exacting a heavy price on those girls who fall off that unrealistic wagon. Her husband Todd admitted to People that he never talked to Bristol about sex or birth control. "She had enough information out there," he claims.

Obviously not!

So now, the Palins are fabulously dressing up their daughter's situation. After all, the Gov. has her eye on a future White House run.

There's only one moment in Bristol's People interview that actually sounds heartbreakingly real. She admits that she skipped her prom — " I don't have that kind of time. And the dress is, like, $400, and the shoes, hair, makeup, it's way too expensive."

Wow. Her mom enjoyed a free $150,000 wardrobe and $50,000 worth of makeup during the presidential campaign, and she wouldn't babysit and fork over the money to get her daughter a dress for a once in a lifetime prom.

As Bristol admitted, "It kind of sucked, to tell you the truth!" Yeah Bristol, you're right and no glossy People magazine article can make up for the fact that being a teen mom sucks.

Too bad most girls who look at you on the newsstand will get exactly the opposite impression!

For more on Bristol + Sarah Palin follow Bonnie Fuller at twitter.com/bonniefuller.

Photo above: Bristol with Hayden Panettiere at a teen pregnancy forum in New York, Getty Images.

Update, May 27: Watch me discuss this post with David Shuster on MSNBC:

Comments

[DianaMB]

Thank you for writing this article. The sensational media bilding of this situation is deplorable. In an effort to keep in the press and on our minds Palin is now signing off on her daughter "sharing her story" and promoting "how she does it all". It must have been a slow week of celebrity gossip at People Magazine that they would decide to give her the cover and and pay her to tell her story. I hope that once the fires are burned in the media crisis and the rapid evolution of "what is news" calms, we can begin to add in and or add back ETHICS.

[qquest]

First of all - I do not hate the Palins. I am just sick of every little detail of their family being all over the place. I cannot even buy groceries without having to see one or more of them on a magazine cover. I really, really do not care what they are doing, with whom and how.
The publicizing of Palin's unwed pregnancy should serve as a catalyst for an open and honest discussion about sex, pregnancy,etc between every mother, father and their children - not just daughters. It is very sad that Bristol has become the posterchild for all that is wrong with the conservative view that just say no actually works. If this is the indepth, analytical and intelligent thought process that Sara uses to make key decisions, I will say thanks but no thanks to any office she may try to achieve on the national level. Too bad, this whole episode has turned into glam shots of how happy and loving and good and wonderful it is to be an unwed, teenage mother instead of the issues many young women face by having a baby in their teens.
So - I don't hat ethe Palin's - just do not agree with any of Sara's extreme,far right, irrational, narrowminded, positions and beliefs an all the things that concern myself and my daughters.
May they all live happy lives and stay in Alaska.

[Hael52]

This has nothing to do with Sarah Palin. This is an article about Bristol and Tripp, so you shouldn't be bringing Sarah's extreme far right positions and beliefs into this, because that is not what the artcile is discussing. This is the reality of many single mothers. Why is Bristol not allowed to have the same love and joy that comes with being a mother? Should she hate her child and neglect it? It is wonderful being a single mom, I know from experience. Yes it is exhausting, frustrating, at times you just want to cry. But there are more moments of joy, love, and laughter that come with any child in any situation, Bristol should be allowed those moments too. I am proud of her and the Palins. Kudos for them for showing the world they will come together and make it work, they should not have to shun Bristol or Tripp. Maybe they should do what Levi does and go on Tyra and other gossip outlets to exploit the situation, would that make you more happy?

[Actongue]

This has Everything to do with Sarah.

On her interview with GretaBristol spoke her heart and honestly when she said that Abstinence was not Realistic.

Now she is Speaking about how Abistnence is realistic

It is obvious that her mom does not want her to speak the truth nor from her heart so had Bristol reverse her thinking so she could fall in line with Sarah.

It has everything to do with Politics and whats best for Sarah.

Then again no matter what sarah does or says her lemmings will always agree with her decision.

[Lynda Davis]

As people have already said this definitely has something to do with Sarah Palin.

Also since when have we been saying that although its hard there are more moments of joy? There is a reason why we advise teen girls not to get pregnant but all of a sudden when its a conservative politician we are commending them? This is ridiculous and hypocritical. If the Palins are so into family values they should be promoting the opposite- telling young girls that teen pregnancy is NOT glamorous. They should be discussing how difficult it is not having cute pictures on the cover of People. She should be treated the way all young mothers in our society are treated.

[mychagall]

Qquest,

Well, I'm glad you "don't hat (look at your comment) the Palins.

For my money, they are certainly worth hating. This should work against her when she tries to run for higher office. I will do my part to keep her from doing so.

As for the rest, I do agree with you. I am really tired of seeing a loser, such as Palin, get all this notoriety. It will backfire on her soon enought!

[Hael52]

It's ok, Obama is doing a great job now. He funds abortions with tax payers money now... Wooo hooo, great job Obama!

[HeatherLeila]

I feel sorry for her too. But this article is right, the People cover doesn't have the right image to match the words below. And such naive words! "If girls realized the consequences of having sex ...nobody would have sex." What kind of weird message is that? Why is she only speaking to girls as having consequences? And the cute baby she is holding up is - a consequence, something to scare other girls into not having sex.

http://heatherleila3.blogspot.com/2009/05/bristol-palin-why-i-feel-for-her.html

[LeslieM]

Thank you! As someone who works with teens and children, the People cover with Bristol Palin only serves to reinforce fantasy! To have a baby "that loves them" and still graduate high school.

Per the clip, approximately 50% graduate high school and only 2% obtain college degrees. Most of the teens have exactly the same situation happen as Bristol did, there is not an amicable relationship with the father of the child.

The only problem is, there always seems to be a catch-22 with providing people support. Instead of cash, I propose some of it be in the form of vouchers for goods and services and most importantly earned with parenting classes. This is not punishment, but protection.

[mychagall]

I would have been thrilled to see Levi on the cover of People, with a caption that read, "Levi sues Bristol Palin for custody of baby. Then wins the custody battle." I would love to see the look on Sarah's face when this happens.

[Hael52]

As a society we all need to open our minds &stop passing judgment on single young Moms or Dads. What I find shocking on these blogs is how not 1person mention's how most fathers just abandon their responsibilities and the mother and her family is left to pick up the financial and emotional obstacles that come with being a mother. I amhere to applaud Bristol and the Palin's for stepping up and opening their house and hearts to their daughter and grandson, because if they didn't who knows what Bristol & Tripp would endure atLevi's residence considering he doesn't have a job (and for the record Bristol has two!) &his mother has a drug problem. Why does society feel the need to bash these young girls who take responsibility for their actions? So what that Bristol's Dad babysits Tripp for free? None of you have ever had a relative or friend babysit your child (children) for free or for really cheap? Yes the article is kind of a "mixed message" because the situation is not "ideal" but would Bristol do it again? I bet she would, Single moms are notany different from married couples, except we do not have the luxury of our partner being able to babysit or switching off nights so we can get a full nights rest. We are with our children 24/7 day and night, so next time you decide to judge us, imagine not being able to have your partner to share parental responsibilities with

[OldFreddie]

Wonderful post, thank you. The hate here for anything connected to Sarah Palin just astounds me.

[Hael52]

Couldn't agree more OldFreddie! God forbid the Palins came together as a family and surrounded Bristol and Tripp with love and support. How awful for the Palins to stick by their family members when one makes a mistake. It is funny to me that the article barely even mentions Sarah Palin but almost all these comments are full of hate for her, funny I must have missed the article about Sarah Palin, the article I read was about Bristol and Tripp. OldFreddie, I think it shows that the Palins could never win with people, they will never please some of these people no matter what they decide.

[mychagall]

Hael52.

Understand that this is saving face and damage control on the part of Sarah Palin. Additionally, Bristol gets bling, lots of it for doing the story. The baby is adorable. Bristol is famous. This is in no way the reality of most, if not all, single parents who actually struggle. Must be nice to only have to work part time then spend the rest of the time travelling around the country, going to tanning salons, and pretty much doing whatever Bristol wants because she has a slew of people who can take care of the baby. Bristol is priveleged and any effort to put her and the Palin family on a pedestal is ignorant!

I hope that Bristol doesn't turn out to be the nasty, selfish woman that Sarah Palin is. One thing is for sure, though, Bristol is as hypocritical as Sarah is. Not something to admire or be proud of.

[Hael52]

So what if Bristol wants some "me" time and goes to tan or workout? Every mom whether or not you are single, married, divorced, whatever, deserves "me" time. Bristol would never win with you. Why isn't Bristol allowed to have baby free time? Oh I know why... she's Sarah Palin's daughter, so therefore, you will condemn them for everything they do. Do you have a wife and kids? Should your wife never be allowed to go to the gym? Or get her nails done? I hope you guys never had a family member babysit your child (or children) for free. Because I guess you are a bad parent then. I am a young single mom, and my mother watches my daughter sometimes so I can go to the gym. Am I bad mother for this?

[Lynda Davis]

This definitely not about single mothers. I was raised by a single mother and I am a feminist. But my mother wasn't a teenager and she NEVER made her situation look glamorous to me. Even though we did well I was told to wait until I had my life situated before having children. I have certainly never heard so many people advocating teen pregnancy before this. As someone else said the Palin supporters would agree with anything they do.
As far as fathers who leave their kids what about it? If this was about that I would comment on that but it's not. It's about Bristol Palin. Show me a cover of Levi on a magazine and I would rip into him. But ACTUALLY the fact that so many fathers leave their kids is another reason why the Palins shouldn't have paraded them around holding hands and now have a glam picture of Bristol with her baby. Its not realistic and girls need to know the facts. They should be in magazines where they are telling about the hardships of teen pregnancy and denouncing the fantasy they tried to create during the election of two perfect young teens who are getting married with their baby. Not only that but we have NEVER been supportive of teen mothers (totally different than just single mothers) and one of the reasons is because the fathers often leave and the girl gives up her life and youth for that child.

[Hael52]

Bristol isn't saying it is glamorous! You people are so blinded by hate! Its crazy! I was a teenage Mom, and its not glamorous but it doesn't mean I wouldn't do it again. I've worked my butt off to get where I am and I am proud of it. I was a young, single, teenage mom and because of people like you and all the other negative comments, you guys make it harder for women in our positions. Should it be glamorous and advocated for? Of course not, that is not what they are doing and it is hard to give up your youth. But at the same time why as a society do we feel the need to kick people when they are down? And I find it funny that you and other's are saying its not about Levi it's about Bristol. Well guess what half of the child is his, so yes it is about Levi too. This is Bristol and Levi's son, not Sarah Palins.

[Soemotional1]

I am a single mother with a great deal of support. I was educated when I conceived and gave birth. By society's standards, I was in the proper financial place to have a child. Yet, I would never think that I should be on the cover of a magazine promoting that choice. The VISUAL of Miss Palin is misleading. Teens do not have the brain development to understand the full weight of the responsibilities that go along with parenting, especially single parenting. The reasons why many teen ads are visual is because teens are influenced by that which is visual. So, although Bristol Pain says things are tough for her, the teens only see the beautiful cover and the beautiful home photos. Then they visualize themselves having a similar situation. This isn't political. It has nothing to do with Sarah Palin. It is irresponsible of People magazine. They have experts who are adept at seeing how advertisements and media affects various demographic groups. Yet, they put this story on the cover and pretended to tell of an experience from which young people can learn. No one will learn from this experience.

[eagledavey]

I've got an idea. How about everyone mind their own business? Last I checked, Bristol wasnt running for office anywhere, so just let her and Trip grow up and lead their own lives. Bristol comes off as more adult than most of the so called experts here and on TV do.

[OldFreddie]

Yes!

[mychagall]

Eagle,

I've got another idea! You offer a very poor argument. You forget, it's Bristol galavanting around the country espousing abstinence, trying to live her own life, and telling teenagers not to do the same! She imposes herself at every turn and you are defending a flagrant hypocrite. But I guess you're a republican and are confortable with hypocrisy.

I am not!!

[mychagall]

Eagledavey,

Your logic is unbelievably flawed. First of all, no one is bothering Bristol, it is Sarah Palin and family who are insuating Bristol into our lives. Not only is she on the cover of People Magazine, but this is done in conjunction with a abstinence campaign that she is part of even though SHE HAD SEX and got pregnant.

I don't know about you, but I would never listen to anyone I don't have respect for. And if these fundamentalist christians do not believe in sex before marriage or giving birth out of wedlock, I find it hard to believe that they would accept this public relations nightmare!

As always, it is easy to see what frauds the Palins are!

[24kgold]

This is crazy......Female teachers doing their students and it's celebrated at the bars. Now a teenager is famous because she's a teen mom and then decide to practice abstinence after the fact. I want to celebrate girls that decide to practice abstinence before they have children, those are the girls that need to be on TV and on the cover of magazines. Hummmmm and the rightwing nuts called Michelle Obama trash? McCain and Palin lied to everyone and pulled this young man from a hunting trip, put him in a suit and on TV and when they lost and it was all over they threw him aside like garbage. This is insane....... What is really happening?

[mychagall]

Outstanding comment. Everything the Palins do are based on lies and deception. But whatever their motivations are for doing what they do, you will certainly find power, greed and self-agrandizement behind every act. Christianity has no part on why Sarah Palin does what she does. This is just a cloak she uses to deceive people and to get support so she could get ahead.

[mychagall]

I can't wait to see how they will bust her little bubble, when Levi files a custody suit. It will be priceless. I hope he kicks the Palins' butts.

[mychagall]

Wow! What a public relations nightmare. Now we can expect thousands of teenagers wearing a cap and gown, holding a baby in thier arms, at their commencement exercies. Many of these teenagers will come from families who are evangelical. Is this not unbelievably ironic? Why is this going to happen? Because people magazine with the Palins' approval has just glamorized teen pregnancy and associated it with finishing high school. According to the picture, it's not even going to be difficult to achieve your goals. Now teenagers all across American can have their cake and eat it too!

There is nothing about this story that is connected to reality. You don't see Bristol with bags under her eyes from sleepless nights of getting up and feeding the baby! They don't show her exhausted from working in a restaurant and having to take care of her baby when she gets home. You don't see her feeling the backlash from evangelicals who are angry about this hypocrisy.

Hopefully, in the end, Sarah Palin will even lose the support of her base, when they have to deal with their own daughters getting pregnant, dropping out of high school, and having to deal with the shame of having babies out of wedlock, which is supposed to be a sin..

[SalB]

Wow, you must all think that teenage girls and most women are complete morons about what they want in life. That as soon as they see a shiny photo of a privileged girl who gets pregnant (please note: not a trivial condition) and whose life isn't ruined they will all run out and get pregnant themselves. What an insulting concept. We need to start teaching and allowing young women to be rational actors. That a woman makes a mistake like this and doesn't have to give up her child or have her life ruined is a good thing. Most women have an understanding of what pregnancy actually is and know their own desires. An article isn't going to convince them to run out and get pregnant if they don't already want that.

[MissFancyPants]

You are so right, Sal. Teenagers are not morons and they definitely know what they want and I respect that. When Bristol wanted to have Levi spend the night in her room, all I did was ask, "Ya two got yer purity rings on?" .

Course, how was I to know that they were cigar bands?

But it turned out for the best. God works in mysterious ways. He provided me with a whole new PR angle, not to mention revenue stream. Bristol got more money for this spread than yer average American makes in 5 years of hard work.

Thats how us Joe six pack Palins operate. We'll hard peddle family values while doin' the exact opposite and laugh all the way to the bank to boot. God bless ya.

[mychagall]

You're absolutely right! Their hypocrisy is a blight on our society, that has become a hallmark of evangelical fundamentalism and Republicanism.

[Hael52]

Because Bristol Palin is nice looking and was airbrushed for a People cover shoot young teenagers are going to get pregnant? She said herself she missed Prom because she didn't have time and it was too expensive, that to me shows she has grown up. If young girls look at this cover and think "I'm going to get pregnant now!" then they have alot more problems. Please spare Bristol your negative words because you do not like they airbrushed her and wanted to make her look refreshed and not exhausted. She states in the article she gets up twice a night to breast feed, why are you attacking her because of an editing choice by the editors, seriously, the Palin’s couldn't win either way. If she was not airbrushed and took pictures looking exhausted and disheveled like you would have preferred, you probably would be attacking Sarah Palin for not spending money on helping her look gorgeous.

[mychagall]

I find this completely unbelievable. This was yet another flagrant ploy by Sarah Palin to soften-up her base. If she had gone to the prom, gone on tour, then been on the cover of People, then gotten all that money, it would have been too over-the-top. By eliminating that factor, Sarah has an easier time of keeping base at bay, and their support of her.

[OldFreddie]

Agree 100%.

[hauty007]

saints & sinners, doubt it, Bristol has moved on with her life, get over it. Yes she made a mistake, who the hell is PERFECT. A wise young woman beyond her years, go Bristol.

[MissFancyPants]

Thanks Piper, but it yer gonna try to help, please don't steal mommie's lines about Bristol being wise beyond her years. If ya really want to help, why don't ya help yer dad fill out some applications for work.

btw, honey, Mommy is PERFECT.

[Yamunation]

Right on yet again! I just saw this article today, and it's true, all the photos in the magazine glorify how much fun it is to be a teen mom. There's a shot of Todd laughing with Bristol, and she plays with her kid.

The real travesty is the parents. If parents don't want kids to learn about sex in school, then they MUST talk to them about it at home. At what age did the Palins expect their kids to learn about sex if not by age 18??? When do conservatives think one should actually learn what it is? They actually expect adults to attend college having no clue as to how a baby is made.

And Bristol is in a great situation that most teen moms aren't. She's got free babysitting from dad, and can probably get more, given she's the governor's daughter. She should use this opportunity to go to a 4-year college and make something of herself. Other teen moms don't have that opportunity.

[canfemlib]

Oh wake up people. It's a pro-life statement by People magazine.

[Jazz88105]

It is a pro-life statement and I am sick of it . Bristol take your kid and go away leave us and from now on no matter what your mom tells you use birth control.

[GeoLee]

IFf she had decent parents, they would be doing all they could to support her in her goal to become a nurse for the welfare of nurse of their grandchild's future. It is not like these parents are destitute. Most of us who are adults would do whatever it took to help our child complete high school and go on to college by helping fund childcare for the baby while mother went on to college even if it is a local college while the daughter lives at home. Unfortunately, Bristol has a set of self absorbed, selfish, narcissistic parents as so many of their extracurricular activities such as snowmobile racing, etc demonstrates. I suspect the only real grown ups in her family are her grandparents.

[shirleyfeeney]

great. she got her diploma. who cares? let's see what she does with her LIFE. that will be the bigger achievement.

[Shebeezies]

Bristol is getting paid by the abstinence campaign people. She says what they tell her to say.