Not only did it affected HER life, but the life of her family as well. The social stigma, while obviously not as strong as in previous decades, is still there, and while a family might not be shunned but friends and neighbors, it's my guess that there was still a lot of talk at tables around the neighborhood. That this secret was kept from virtually everybody this young lady knew, meant all those people were also subjected to any and all comments, stares, attitudes, and stereotypes aimed at the "pregnant" one.

This seems an extreme but very powerful testimony to how things REALLY are for young pregnant girls, their family and friends, and hopefully others at her schools learned a few things also.

genafan201. thank you for not ending that comment by blaming the girl for the potential 'shame' her family may have felt as a result of community prejudice. The 'pregnant' one gets the blame all to often. :)

@SPIC_GER- how exactly was it a rascist scam? You do know that teenage girls of all races get pregnant...right? Would you have said the same if she were African American? Caucasian? Pacific Islander? Asian?

@SPIC_GER

I had a 100% white class. 28 of the 95 graduating students were parents on or within months of graduation. I'm talking we had a girl give birth the night before graduation and another couple in the class had a baby a few months later...baby was in the oven at graduation. (I am including my male classmates, it takes two to tango)

The issue of teen pregnancy is not about race. Its about education, resources and community involvement. What made my class similar to inner city schools? Poverty. I came from a very rural, impoverished town.

We need to improve both sex education in schools, as well as, self-esteem building exercises and extra-curricular programs to help at-risk teens.

This person is an obvious inbred jerk. When I was in High School, there was a girl(and a very nice girl at that) that got pregnant in her Jr. year. All of a sudden, all of these people that were supposedly her friends started talking and saying all sorts of nasty things about her. I finally told two girls in particular to shut the Fu*K up, as they were doing the exact same things as the girl who got pregnant. In fact, they partied even harder than she did, they were just the lucky ones not to get pregnant. So many posters on here act like they are so righteous and above every one else, but as Jesus said, "Let he without sin, cast the first stone." Obviously we have a winner here with spic_ger....

Wait...they kept the secret from the boyfriends parents? Did they think she was pregnant with his child or did she not wear the prosthetic while around them? I hope she didn't tell them she was pregnant and lie to them

Experiment or not i have a 10 year old son and if one of his girlfriends told me she was pregnant and then lied....well, I couldn't even imagine the pain.

With you son being 10 years old, I couldn't even imagine HOW!

One of my very best friends had her first child at age 16. She had been one of the popular girls, a cheerleader; everyone loved her until she became pregnant. Her boyfriend and I were in the same class; we had just graduated when she found out she was pregnant. All of a sudden, most people turned on her, her brother, her parents, her aunt (who was a teacher at our school), and those of us who stuck by her. This was a rural area where everyone knew everyone and everyone knew everyone's business. Even after my friend and her boyfriend married, people were still being so incredibly nasty. I had come home from college one weekend, and went to the high school's football game. I took her with me; she was about 7 months along by then. A girl who was in her class, and had supposedly been a friend, walked up to us and said, "So, are you a whore like your friend?" My friend was absolutely crushed, so we left the game. It took all my willpower to keep myself from knocking the daylights out of that rude girl. My friend showed them all- she worked her way through college, has a successful career, and although she and her boyfriend had a second child, and married and divorced twice, she has had a great life.

Most teen parents don't end up having a great life. Most never finish school, never have a decent-paying job, never have stable relationships. If this kid's project helps even one teenager think before having unprotected sex, it was worth all the trouble.

Kallie - thats a fair point. Of course, you have to wonder if the parents didnt exactly feel pain in the end, as much as relief.

you dont know if they ever came around to accepting the situation for what they thought it was...but I will agree that is an emotionally difficult thing to put somene ELSES parents through. of course, the parents of that boy would have to be equally upset with their own son, considering HE chose to go along with this...it would be interesting see how this played in the experiment? were they only mad at HER for lying, or their son too? were they relieved, indicating they never accepted this or were ok with it?

Its all part of the experiment I hope.

or maybe the BF's parents weren't the type of people to keep theri mouth shut...maybe that was the deciding factor.

kallie. . .Why in the world would you encourage your 10 year old son to have "girlfriend?" Mother of the year. . . .I don't think so.

I think it would be a great idea if all the young men who's girlfriends are pregnant had to go around with a belly attached to them for nine months and not be able to play sports and had to go to every Dr. appointment and get a rectal exam for every vaginal exam the girl gets. Why should the pregnant girl be the only one who is ostracized by the community. If a few boys did this and wrote a paper warning all other boys, maybe they would also be a little more aware and use protection more.

Does it take a genius to figure out that she was talking about the future.....I don't think so.

I love that this was a latina who did it. There are so many prejudices against teen mothers. I had a boy a few months before graduation, and I remember a girlfriend of my best friend saying how stupid I was to get pregnant at a young age. A couple of years later, she had an unplanned pregnancy, and got in touch with my best friend (they had broken up by then). She asked him to tell me she was sorry for the things she had said about me, because she realized it only took that one guy to get her pregnant. I guess before then, she though you had to be in a gang bang to get knocked up. People really just don't use their heads sometimes, and it's that mentality that gets people into situations like that. Every girl thinks it can't happen to her because only sluts become teen mothers. They lower their guard, and the next thing you know, all their friends have vanished, the father gets scared and takes off, her parents may or may not have her back anymore...

Speaking of the father, young girls really need to think of that: Every guy you have sex with could get you pregnant. What is he going to be like as a father? Will he stand by you when you need him? Will he be there for his kid? I know teens don't think about things like that (I didn't) because they think they are far away from getting married and having a kid. The reality is, boy or girl, anytime you have sex you are only months away from being a parent. If you don't want to pick out someone to spend the rest of your life with in high school, don't have sex in high school. No matter how careful you are, birth control fails. Mine did.

Kallie isn't encouraging her 10 year old to have a girlfriend, she stated she has a 10 year old son and it would hurt to be lied to, meaning later in life not at the moment. All Kallie is doing is putting herself into his parents shoes if this was her son when he is older and him and his girlfriend lied to them about it.

When I was in high school I faked like I knew what the hell I was doing.

My baseball coach used to tell me that if I was ever asked a question that I didn't know the answer to, just answer "4". It worked!

Wow the morons are out in force today.I believe what Kallie meant was when her 10 year old was old enough to have a girlfriend.Sheesh no cure for stupidity

My first reaction was of horror. It took a bit of reading to really feel the full impact of what this young woman did.

For 6 months she put her entire social life on the line to prove a point. Wow. This is someone that needs further education and the freedom to choose her own direction.

She will do very well, and I think that she will someday make us all remember this episode as an indicator of far greater things to come.

SpyderGirl, please stop lying. If over 25% of your graduating class were parents it would have made national news. Think before you post.

Actually in rural towns in the south, 25% is not such a huge phenomen. Our class had girls who were pregnant, girls who were mothers, and we even had a few who were already married before graduation.

Thank you Sally. It smells better here already.

Out on the farm, we found it is a more efficient, to keep the females from getting pregnant, to castrate the males. That female would only have 1 a year. The male could father hundreds, Worked just fine.

@Sally:

You said: "I'm First!! banned. Your one and only comment, which just said you were first, has no value."

Tell me Sally, why can people put up hateful posts calling all 1.5 BILLION Muslims on planet Earth terrorists and advocating nuclear bombing of Iran or Saudi Arabia or the entire Middle East and not have a single word said against their posts by Newsvine moderators and yet "I'm First" gets banned, not even reprimanded but BANNED for making a harmless little joke?

Rather disproportionate, I think.

As for "SPIC_GER" on the other hand, banning was a totally appropriate call.

Khairn, a baby is not a fault to be blamed on someone. New life is a blessing.

Also, no father is free from the responsibility of creating and caring for that life. He could not be a father if he didn't have sex with someone. To lump all that responsibility on the mother is an extremely medieval idea, to say the least. It takes two people to have a baby, and except in case of rape like you said (I'm not sure what you mean by "true rape;" as opposed to fake rape?), both of those people act of their own volition. If any young men (or even grown men) out there don't want to be "saddled" with a baby they don't want, they have two very simple ways to avoid that: Don't have sex, or get a vasectomy. These are both much easier than expecting the woman to take full responsibility for birth control and condoms, and expecting nothing of the men. I realize that men are simple creatures and unable to practice even the most basic self-control, but I'm pretty sure most of them can figure out how to use a condom.

New life isn't a blessing for everyone, EliMae. Perhaps you're projecting your own desires on the world. If you're anti-abortion, you should realise that. For some people, especially now, it's a problem that will break the bank, make it impossible to pay the rent, the mortgage or to feed the other children already in the family.

There's no assistance now for women with kids. The political party in the US which is against women having abortions is also against supporting women and children. Look it up (no names named here). Your POV is too simplistic.

In other areas you're right. Khaim has an idiotic view of the world. He's putting all the blame for everything in the world on women. Men have a choice, too. If he has sex without a condom, he's exercised his choice right at that instant. All his rights to choice have terminated at that point and pass to the woman at that point.

There is no such thing as false rape, Khaim. You need to get a clue, grow up beyond the age of 11 or go live on a island where there are no women you can bother, because you are incapable of living with civilised human beings.

You are kidding right? "make an impact on her peers that will force them to open their minds " You are clearly out of touch with the 8 second attention generation, a short burst of facebook comments and jokes at lunch later she will be forgotten, hopefully off to a good school. The other 99% of her peers will have moved on to the next net meme. And yes I'm a semi part or these types, I'm only 33

Semi part 33, whatever that means. Sounds like it's simply too much to digest. I understand. Anything that requires a positive understanding instead is mired in condemnation, consternation and vilification of negative. Sounds so Palinish.

But wait, it's Right

Giggidy

( =^\/)

Palinish, you're so brainwashed by media you can't even spot a Canadian in your midst. I say semi because I've grown up with a computer + internet access in my hands since the mid 80's. If you actually had read my post you would realise I meant nothing but the best for the enterprising social -sci major, but was commenting on the majority of today's useless youth. I guess I struck a nerve as your kids probably fit the bill.

Wait, wait, wait... did you just say you've had an iPad since the 80's? HA HAAAAAAAH, chief, you're completely right. You're out of my league. I bow to your superiority. Yep, nerve struck. SMH. I won't even touch the fact that you attacked my innocent daughters. That only shows how low you're willing to go in a conversation about our youth. Tsk tsk.

Some of you guys make Sharon 'Obtuse' Angle sound 'semi' sweet. Where in the world do you guys come from? PWND............

Gadzooks

( =^\/)

Sounds like you should have been spending the 80's hugging your mother. So here is my advice to you, give her a hug. May ease some of your stress.

Giggidy

( =^))

Thank you so much for understanding that our youth is our hope. This extraordinary young lady seems to have done some 'outside the box' thinking. I applaud her actions, and her sacrifice (senior year, no less!), and I hope that whatever lay behind her 'experiment', she carries the lessons with her for a lifetime. I really do hope that her fellow classmates have learned a thing or two and also carry that with them into the future. This country needs more young people who are willing to explore our society, our social views, and try to learn from them. Only in learning and understanding will we/they be able to fix the issues.

And you did have the perfect quote:

"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next."

Abraham Lincoln

Yeah, This girl is doing this project to show what and how people believe the lies they have been taught(stereotypes-does that ring a bell to any one?) by either their parents or society in general. A Good example is that if you are from the South, you are an ignorant racist southerner. Completely false. Another example is if you are from the New England states, you are not racist, also, very much untrue. And fluffy, as far as generalizing all of today's youth as lazy and worthless, my 13 year old son just got his report card and guess what, 6 A's, 1 B. He also plays football, is on the Archery Team, and has made the Principals Honor Roll. And this is really gonna shock you conservatives, but his Mom and Dad(Dad, is me by the way), are LIBERALS who absolutely believe in education, this country and God. I too am very big on the NRA, now how does that grab ya. The whole point of this is, when you stereo type some one, you are the one demonstrating prejudice not the other person.

I also applaud her. Big risk to take on and also she must have very thick skin because I'm sure she took on a lot of verbal abuse from her peers. When I was in high school one of my best friends got pregnant. She told me and her parents she met a guy at a party and had unprotected sex, she said she was drunk and couldnt remember the guys name. I continued to be friends with her but some of our group pulled away. Either their parents didn't want them hanging out with her or they just didn't think a pregnant girl could be fun anymore. I know staying friends with her I took a lot of abuse also from other girls, the idea being that my pregnant friend was a slut so I also was one by association. Older senior girls were the worst calling me and my friend names when we walked by them, I got into a few fights over it. The boys also treated me differently, now I was a target to try and sleep with. Like I said it was guilt by association. The thing none of them knew was my girlfriend was raped by a family member, because she was scared and ashamed she never told anyone until after she went to college. She gave the baby up for adoption. I was a virgin all throughout high school and college until I met my first love, so peoples perceptions were so off base. I hope they publish this girls findings and people really take it to heart, you really cant judge a book by its cover.

FLUFF: That's what you are spewing. Unless you were utilizing the government-only internet of the 70's in utero, I can only surmise you are full of "dog'fluff" when you claim superiority.

This story is just another social experiment. One that has valid and reasonable results that will be (if not already) meaningful when determining society's next approach to teen pregnancy. This is nothing new or scandalous, but instead proof of human (not just teenage) irresponsibility. This girl is, at a very young age, a dedicated, and contributing member of society. She should be revered for making such a "self-damaging" decision to import such real, and relevant data.

Louis J. Palinish?? Palin suffered the same situation as other parents whose children get pregnant as teenagers....and she had to endure on the public stage with scores of people TRYING to humiliate her and her daughter. "Condemnation, consternation and vilification" wasn't coming from her. She supported and embraced her daughter. Showed her unconditional love. You sound so "Joy Behar-ish". Just MUST insert a swipe at Palin or the Right, or your day isn't complete. Not EVERYTHING is a political issue.

I tend to agree with some of what fluffy said. A GREAT number of today's teens are totally self-centered, and take great pleasure in demonizing another, girls especially, not caring, but relishing the chance to name call, look down upon, trash as a knee jerk activity. The "8 second" focus I THINK means that this experiment may raise the kids awareness of what a pregnant teen endures but after a very short time, it's business as usual with them. Insight is here today, gone tomorrow. They may not look deep enough to realize, "There but for the grace of God...." or not fire up the Facebook and Twitter and trash the next unfortunate girl in that predicament.

Does this girl really have more strength and courage than teen girls who really are pregnant and have a child to raise and not just a prosthetic belly to take off. An interesting experiment? Sure. Courageous and an inspiration? Meh.

Ashely-33,

Your first comment to Fluffydog only shows your total ignorance on the Internet, PCs and tech history in general, as I like Fluffy was "On-line" in the late 70's when it was all direct dial-up 7500K modems. It wasn't "Government-Only". Heck, my dad and I built my first "PC", an Altair kit. You probably don't even know what that is. You probably never knew computers every came with anything other than Microsquish Windopes. People like fluffy and I have probably forgotten more about computers and technology than people like you will even know. Sure you can use every cool gadget out today, but you haven't got a clue about what makes it work, how or why. Without a "point-n-click" GUI, your lost.

Actually this is the best example thing to come out of high school that I have heard in a long time. I wish I would have been brave enough to do something like this especially when I went to high school in California. The school I went to had a nursery as many of the inner city school did. I was not from there, I am from the south and I am not saying that the school I attended were pregnant free because they weren't but we did not have a nursery. I am not saying that I had never been around pregnant people because that is not true also. Three of my sisters had kids oow, but I have to say I knew if I would have any kids oow, my parents would have hit the roof because I am the youngest and I stated that I wanted to go to college. I think the experience my experience at home (being the youngest, being an aunt at age three and babysitting at age 10) really makes you think about wanting children.

I think this should be included in sex ed class if you can do it in a way to make the girl see what is like (feel) to be pregnant and for the boys to see what they would have to do.

Palin was riduculed for being a hypocrit to preach abstinence only and have a pregnant teenage daughter. This girl was not pulling a prank, and it was sanctioned by the principle. As far as the results, we will see whats in her report soon enough, but I am pretty sure there will be alot of value in it from many perspectives. This is a college level ordeal and should have been carefully considered before being allowed on the case by case basis.

Bryan, THANK YOU for blowing up some of the sterotypes around liberal! I'm a gun-toting, Navy veteran who believes in God and education. BUT...I'm also pro-choice, among other "liberal" buagboos.

1st, Fluffy and Louis, you both need to step away from the caffeine.

2nd, While it was nice this girl choose to pursue this "experiment," we pretty much know what is going on with teen pregnancy already. This is nothing new. What we really need to know is "WHY" she did it. Is she doing it so that pregnant teens are accepted and rewarded for their mistake? (Though I know some who choose to get pregnant on purpose. Too bad they are too young to be good Mothers.) Is she doing this to discourage teen pregnancy? We all know the stereotypes already exist. Why did SHE do it?!?

willowbrook: I agree that why she did this is important. However, I would like to point out that the rumors and stereotypes that pregnant teens face can be very unfair. They are called whores, sluts, etc., etc. - many of them are not whores, sluts, etc. I got pregnant with my oldest son when I was 19 - I had been out of high school for 2 years. But, I also was from a small, very religiously conservative town. I was not a member of the predominant church in that town - and had already been tormented all through high school being called a whore, slut, etc. (what's funny about that - I graduated high school a virgin, unlike most of my classmates). While I didn't face a teen pregnancy while in high school, there were still rumors flying around about me.

While we don't need to reward teens for getting pregnant (especially while they are still in school themselves), we also shouldn't support spreading rumors, lies, and perpetuating negative stereotypes.

Yes, there are those that get pregnant on purpose, however, I think they still are in the minority in comparison to those that get pregnant on accident (though it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed).

Willow,

You hit the nail on the head with what this 'news' article is lacking. Despite the amount of journalism majors in the US and media they can't seem to come up with these basic questions and get the answers to them before they run their articles.

With Louis and Fluffy, I label this thread trolled!! ;)

In this day and age, it is not necessary for these pregnancies to be accidents. There are ways to prevent pregnancy. The bottom line for most comes back to personal responsibility. If the teen is choosing to engage in adult activity, then they need to engage in adult responsibility. (I know that sound a bit pat, but as a former Teacher, I was appalled by the lack of personal responsibility in teens, and, unfortunately, many got that from their parents, who lacked personal responsibility as well.) There are always exceptions, and that is not what I'm talking about. Personal responsibility is key in this issue. Why aren't parents being responsible for teaching their children appropriate behavior concerning other kids and enforcing it?!? Teen and pre-teens are dogging on each other on a variety of subjects, not just pregnancy. The list of subjects is lengthy and the comments mean spirited. The problem is much bigger than comments to pregnant teens. All of the reasons can be debilitating to the person being bullied.

willowbrook: I got pregnant with both of my boys will on properly used birth control - so, even if someone is taking responsibility, accidents can and do happen.

That said - it is exceedingly rare for pregnancies to happen with properly used birth control. Which brings me to my next point - sex education is sorely lacking in this country. Parents don't want to talk to their kids about sex, kids don't get proper sex education at schools (for a variety of reasons). So, kids often know how to prevent these accidents from occurring in the first place. I have done sex education for young teens (younger than the girl in this story) - the biggest misconceptions 1) they can't get pregnant unless both the boy and girl climax at the same time 2) there is a cure for HIV, so use of condoms is unimportant. Now, one might argue that by the time they are 17, they should know these misconceptions are just that - misconceptions. However, if they are never taught about it (as is often the case), then they keep some of these misconceptions. One of my friends did a sex education for the dorm she worked in as an RA. It was a freshmen girls dorm, and she was in undergrad 2 short years ago - these misconceptions STILL are present in college age kids. So, that needs addressed.

You bring up very good points about personal responsibility and the bullying issue - whether about pregnancy or not. You are absolutely right on this - parents need to teach their kids that this is not acceptable. However, it's obvious that parents aren't teaching their kids about this.

I'm at a lost to understand what her experiment was about anyway. She never explains herself so it seems like something that was dumb. It's 2011, the unfortunate truth is that nobody really cares if a high school girl gets pregnant these fdays.

htdjpf,

I agree, alot of people nowadays would be lost without a GUI. I'm a 17 year old that is extremely comfortable on a linux/unix terminal, I even adminster servers through it. When I tell people what I can do with a computer, they're mouths usually drop wide open.

Radgast.....Palin was a hypocrite you say?

Sooooo, since... Palin promoted, advised, abstinence. Daughter didn't listen. Daughter got pregnant. And just because Palin didn't give her a show and tell on birth control, doesn't mean she and her boyfriend were totally ignorant of that choice. I don't think they were weighing any alternatives at the time.

Would that also be the case when.... Parent tells kid, drive within the speed limits. Kid speeds. Kid gets ticket/accident

Parent is a hypocrite because he/she told the kid to drive within the speed limit and the kid didn't listen and follow parents' advice..??

So any parent whose kid doesn't take their counsel or advice is a hypocrite?? That pretty much covers all parents.

Sally,
I'm curious. I read all the posts earlier between Fluffy Dog and Louis J., Louis started in with the personal attacks because he/she obviously didn't read FD's post very closely and drew a false conclusion. Why are you only sensuring Fluffy?

Willow and Cniht:

Gaby performed her social experiment in the small town of Toppenish, WA and the initial coverage of the story was in the Yakima Herald-Republic. That's the local paper in the larger nearby town of Yakima, WA - where I live- and their report contains the details of why she conducted the experiment in the first place.

You can read the original Herald story here:

www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/04/20/pregnot-toppenish-high-student-fakes-pregnancy-as-social-test-about-stereotypes-rumors

Sally, I must agree with Military Man. Seems harsh to ban fluffy for a month, while Luis J, who was doing pretty much THE SAME EXACT THING gets off.

Sparky14624 You say Pretty Imaginative ?

I think she's pretty SICK !

What the heck Is wrong with you all ?

Why is she sick?

I think it was a pretty cool senior project. Hopefully these kids who looked down their noses at her learned a lesson from all of this. What you see may not actually be the way it is. I always told my son not to judge people by the way that they look. Just because someone looks good or looks rich does not mean that they are. Not everybody that looks like don't have a pot to pi$$ in means that they don't. A pregnant girl does not mean that she is a slut. Nobody judges the guy that got her pregnant. He got laid! We all live in glass houses and everyone of us has a skeleton in our closet. I think this girl was very smart with what she did and hopefully some learned from it.

I concur. I'm currently in the midst of writing my thesis that is centered around the Virgin/Whore archetypal duality as it appears in literature. A huge part of my research deals with the double-standard upon which this dichotomy is based.

Gail

Fort on the Hill,

Maybe you're the sick one here? As a 17 year old in High School, I see the way pregnant girls get treated and I hope things like this became a part of the curriculum. Just think about this scenario, Your daughter gets raped and as a result becomes pregnant. Don't think this can't happen to you. I've seen it first hand and I attend a high school in an upper class area...

She was probably able to collect some real, rather than theoretical data as well.

thanks for fighting the stereotype of REPUBS as unfeeling, uneducated fools who rely on stereotypes!

I wasn't gonna stoop to your level Spic, but you are a total douche bag.

Spic, you are so ignorant and misguided, I can only perceive your comment to be a joke. No one is that pathetically naive.

Wrong way to get the message across.

Comments like "lazy welfare ho" often come from people that love their Medicare, but hate "socialist" programs that help the underprivileged.

This may be the most intelligent thing you have ever posted chargerfan. Hell, I know it is.

LOL! I love it!

That was my only objection to the experiment. His parents should have been told.

I agree. That had to have been a stressful six months for them.

It wasn't meant to be a joke Rebecca, it was a social experiment.

Agreed. Keeping it from the boy's parents was cruel. They could have just as easily done this experiment and still told his parents the truth. Very stupid decision.

As for the rest, it's impressive that she pulled it off for so long. The question is... will what she did or what her presentation says have any real impact on anyone? Only time can answer that. Chances are that it will not because this type of thing generally isn't what gets people to change. It might affect her life and how she views people and pregnancy, but much beyond that probably won't happen.

I would be estatic to find out that my teenage son was NOT going to be a father. You can then look back at the situation and laugh that he did not ruin the rest of his life.

It was an experiment...if the world knew (including her boyfriend's parents) the reactions would have been askewed. I think everyone had an opportunity to learn something about themselves and others close to them.

This probably gave the young man insight on how his parents would act if he was in that situation (good or bad). Like many things we never know how we are going to react until you are in the moment.

So I give kuddos to all...

If I read the article correctly, the girl's mother was also the only one in her family that knew this was an experiment. There were family members on both sides of the relationship that were in the dark, and while I'm not sure I agree with her executing her experiment that way, it does add more credible data to her report.

I'm curious to know what the results of all her research were.

Amused Rebecca? I think you may not have understood what this young woman was doing. It wasn't for you to get a chuckle.

Kudos to her for taking up this experiment and seeing it through!

He's 20 years old, not a teenager, plus when he was 18 he was dating a 15 year old which is a little more disturbing to me, what's that called in most states oh yea statutory rape or child molestation

I understand where you're coming from and I would also not be amused (but at the same time hugely relieved!).

I think it made sense for the boyfriends parents to NOT be told. Many times in these situations, the boyfriend's parents have a negative affect on the situation because alto-often they think the girl was completely responsible for getting pregnant or even did it on purpose. I'm not saying all teen father parents behave like this, but quite a few do (especially depending on the ethnic culture).

I would love to see the research as well and I wondered if her mother "pretended" that she was going to press charges on him since he was not supposed to have sex with her daughter.

"plus when he was 18 he was dating a 15 year old which is a little more disturbing to me, what's that called in most states oh yea statutory rape or child molestation"

Sweetie, dating does not equal sex or sexual relations. Without sex, there can't be statutory rape and without some kind of intimate contact there cannot be child molestation.

Notfirst,

You assume that she and her 20 year old boyfriend were having sex. Maybe she was "a good Catholic girl" and they weren't. Yeah, I know, but go with it. Think about how he would have felt if they weren't because of her age and the legal point you make, and then she suddenly comes up "pregnant" and he knows it wasn't him? What's that going to do to there "relationship"?

I know they probably were having sex, but like you said that could have caused her "boyfriend" all sorts of legal problems, even if neither her family or his filed the charges.

Maybe how the boys parents reacted was part of the experiment.

Washington State Statutory Rape Laws would only punish that crime with up to five years in prison, because it it only considered a 3rd Degree rape charge. () Also, what causes such a charge to be brought to court is not the couple in question, but the parents of the younger member. (What, did you think that the boy's parents would send their child to jail?) Obviously, the reactions of family members who did not know the truth was important to the experiment. As well as minimizing the number of people who could spread the truth too early. Having only her mother and boyfriend know the truth was enough to prevent that problem. Kudos to him for going through this with her.

As for the age difference, NotFirst, there is a psychological reason why girls are attracted to older boys. It has to do with the rate at which they mature mentally and emotionally. When Gaby was 14, the boys who were her own age would have been comparably less mature than the girls. A relationship with this great an age difference is not uncommon, and as long as both sides use common sense, they can last a very long time. My parents were high school sweethearts just like this, they have been married for 25 years.

I dont feel sorry for the boys parents, more than likely they were probably dissapointed with the pregnancy and relieved to find out it was not true. On the other hand if they were ridiculously excited to become grandparents and were supportive and starting to gather baby supplies then I feel bad cuz they r gunna be let down. I really hope his parents didnt like start knitting booties and blankets and such that would suck!

I think she had a sufficient number of subjects without including the prospective paternal grandparents. Otherwise, I commend her for her efforts and maybe originality. Certainly a research project that would gather data points.

Apparently it didn't hurt her conscience to cause the rest of her family, and her boyfriend's family lots of stress during this fake pregnancy. I imagine her boyfriend had to listen to a lot of insults, too. He even stated he was worried about retaliation from her brothers. Maybe the kudos should be going to HIM, and the rest of his family, and the rest of her family that she didn't inform.

There was no real strength involved in this "experiment". She could take off her belly when she slept. She had the support of her mother. She didn't have morning sickness. She knew it was going to be over in a few months. Remember, she didn't start wearing the belly until, what was it-her sixth month?

More relevant information could be gotten from the girls who actually were pregnant in high school. She should have interviewed THEM.

There was no point to this experiment. The only thing she proved is that she was able to carelessly deceive family members.

The only useful thing to come out of this experiment would be to teach kids not to have sex in high school while unmarried. It doesn't sound like that is her goal. Otherwise, again, it was totally pointless.

Of course teenagers can be mean. Of course teenage pregnancy is a huge issue. Of course she could have interviewed other students who are actually pregnant. Of course teens have sex. But that's not what her experiment was about, none of the above.

Anyone who lives in Toppenish, Wapato, White Swan, and Yakima, WA can tell you that we have our fair share of teen pregnancies. However, it's gotten to the point that people here don't really think or talk much about it, on a grand scale at least, except to say something stupid like, "Yeah, a girl in our high-school is pregnant but what else is new?" Yes, I've heard that statement before. Multiple times. Gaby's experiment is shedding light on prejudices and stereotypes regarding this particular issue (teen pregnancy) and it's gotten people in our area openly talking about it.

Bravo, Gaby!

He is 20 yrs old, maybe not living with his parents, maybe he doesn't have any communication with his parents. You are quick to judge on this. Maybe his parents did know she was "pregnant" so no harm there. Unless I am wrong and missed something in the article I don't recall the article saying anything about his parents being upset because they weren't in on this or even if they knew she was "pregnant."

Lou777777777: the point of the experiment was not the total effect on her personally, but the societal reaction to her being pregnant. So the lack of real symptoms did not affect her research.

I'd be curious to know if her experiment revealed anything we didn't already know.

Don't you all think the paretns are allowing him and her to date.... Duh if the parents allow are consent to it its not statuarty rope or molestation. I think what she did was a little out of taste but she tuaght everyone a lesson don't judge someone when you dont know the whole story and that pregnancy in teen years should not be glorfied. But for those who are judging her quick your self rightous ways and think about the mistakes you have which many are probably alot worse than hers. End of discussion.

Snookums48, that is because he is really a closet raiders fan..... He is just too afraid real Raiders fans will kick his ass for being a douche.

How about we deport your sorry ass. You probably still live in mommy and daddy's basement, too stupid to even get hired on at McDonalds.

Well put, bryan-2876208.

SPIC_GER, you're a moron to the second power.

SPIC_GER is a troll, ignore him. He is just getting his rocks off by making people angry.

O.K. Everybody....easy on SPIC_GER. We need to remember to have compassion for the socially retarded and friendless, especially when they've probably been a huge dissapointment to their family members (who's basements they are probably living in.)

Sadly, some people are not able to be happy unless they are A) the center of attention and B) the instigator of a free-for-all. It's a sad commentary on their lives, but at least these particular ones who fit that description are merely on Newsvine. Some of us have lived with the type, and it's a miserable existence.

You are a genuine pig, Der Spic...

I'm sorry rarelogic, why put down pigs by comparing them to this total piece of sh*t.

Times sure have changed. My kids were shocked when I told them this story.

Back in the 70s a girl in my high school class learned the hard way. And every girl who lived in her neighborhood learned from it too.

She was expelled from school and her parents sent her to an out of town church run facility to wait out her pregnancy. Gave birth and never saw her baby, who was adopted. Once she returned home all us girls were forbidden by our parents to associate with her. No boy would date her. Where before her pregnancy she was popular, she was afterwards ostracized and spent the rest of her high school years alone.

Fast forward 40 years. I just received an invitation to a baby shower for a neighbor's 15 year old daughter.

Although I don't think 15 year old pregnant girl should be ostracized, the fact that they get pregnant because their parents and school districts are too spineless to talk to them about sexual education makes me mad.

I don't think 15 year old girls should have a child, the abstinence or head in the sand policies of parents and schools need to change.

Keira, why is it the schools responsibility to teach sex ed in the first place? This is why the teaching union has so much power, people like you that think it is up to schools to raise children from cradle to graduation. I know you said parents too, but dang, this has nothing to do with reading writing and arithmetic.

Lets get back to educating our kids at the dinner table and in our homes and not count on the idiots in the village.

KOV68,

why is it the schools responsibility to teach sex ed in the first place?

Because too many parents prefer to keep their heads in the sand and pretend if they ignore the possibility it won't happen. They're wrong.

"Severed Head in a Jar"! LOL! Best screen name ever! ROTFALMAO!!!

My wife says: "He's probably a science teacher."

I say: "He's probably a psycho-killer."

No one is saying cradle-to-grave. That's not only ridiculous, but also unrealistic. But the fact is, teenagers already in a learning environment are much more likely to actually absorb some useful information.

It's also a health issue. It affects the prolonged health and well being of their own bodies, which they should be learning about. Whether we like it or not, teenagers are sexually active. We have a responsibility to them to teach them the consequences of sexual activity and how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spread of STDs.

It's not enough to simply tell them it's bad or a sin. That hasn't helped so far has it? The physiology of humans has evolved in such a way as to allow pubescent humans to procreate after having reached a certain level of physical maturity. We evolved this way to ensure the likelihood that our genes would survive into a new generation. This is an instinctual drive that is just as strong as the fight-or-flight response to danger or the need to have shelter and food. The problem is that in the modern world there is no need to have children as quickly as possible due to the fact that we have stable food supply and shelter and much, much longer life spans.

So, teens are acting on urges that are evolutionary and hard to combat. Society has developed stricter rules for our young and frowns upon sexual activity of teens, leaving parents to avoid talking about it with them because they themselves are uncomfortable with sex and their own sexuality ("Oh, not my little Jenny or Johnny! They're a good girl/boy").

This young woman in Washington saw a problem in our society involvling gossip and rumors and used pregnancy to illustrate the point of her commentary. She could have just as easily claimed to be a lesbian or bisexual, to have gotten an STD, exhibited symptoms of drug abuse or mental illness and her point could still have been made.

Severed is absolutely right, and KOV68 also has a point there are a lot of "so called Parents" who do not do the job they are supposed to in teaching their kids anything, they cant wait to send them to school so they are the schools problem for 7 hours a day. The only problem is when these girls become pregnant then its the so called idiot tax payers who have to suffer to pay for the birth and assistance they need to support their kids. It has become a very vicious cycle young mothers, born to young mothers and so on. KOV68 in a perfect world parents would do whats right and be there for their kids and teach them all the responsibilities of being adults, but be honest it never happens so yes the schools and village has to step up to the plate and educate.

Keira, why is it the schools responsibility to teach sex ed in the first place?

Because all parents arent biology teachers. Thats why. Sex a natural occuring act of nature, and that biological aspects of such needs to be taught. When a girl starts menstrating, hormones start too. MOST parents have the sex talk based on age. So they wouldnt be likely to have it with a 2nd grader (8 year old) who happened to be an early starter.

Actually, abstinence did work, until Planned Parenthood went into the schools to teach about sex education, which, of course, in their agenda, includes the exact methods and acts to perform. Since then there has been an explosion of teen pregnancies. The teens who don't know where babies come from are few and far between. The ones who get pregnant either do it on purpose (and I know a couple of them), or their birth control method failed. Or they have intercourse in the heat of passion and they really don't care at the moment.

Now abortion and out of wedlock pregnancies are glorified.

Maybe a more relevant project would have been to promote abstinence. But that would take REAL courage.

Um... the abstinence lesson in my school lead to laughter... and a heck of a first date. Sorry, but PP never even got near my school until decades later. The churches fail to understand biology, and as their grip on the mind of youth slips, those rebelious youths try things out for themselves. me included.

Easy access to birth control does NOT encourage sex for one very simple reason. Your average teenager does not think "it" will ever happen to them. Their risk aversion system has not fully developed yet.

why is it the schools responsibility to teach sex ed in the first place?

It's education, specifically health education?

All you need to have your daughters do is talk to a high school student who is actually pregnant. Or have them stay with the mothers and do all their work for a couple of weeks after the baby is born. Including getting up at night when the mother gets up, changing the diapers for the mother, etc. This "experiment" was totally irrelevant.

Please, please, please....READ the article! The experiment did involve her pretending to be a pregnant teen in school but is centered around the effect it had on people and the RUMORS AND STEREOTYPES that her "situation" caused.

This legitimate social experiment is completely relevant!

Joycee, while Lou apparently missed the point of the experiment, I'm not sure if it actually revealed anything - including the rumor/stereotype bit - that wasn't already common knowledge. A lot of posts here are relating personal experiences in which the rumors and stereotypes were abundant. In other words, "been there, done that."

I'm sure this girl has a whole new personal outlook on the situation, but as for revealing something new to the public ... what?

It certainly revealed a lot to her classmates, as well as students at other high schools in the area. This topic doesn't come up in our communities to be talked about in a public forum and now it has.

It might not be so much of a revelation for the public on a national level, but it's certainly a good eye-opener for our local area.

Gr8kids, it is good that you have taught your daughter but many parents do not and that is the problem. Yeah, I am sure it is hard on folks, but there seems to be no communication within families and that is where most of the problems start.

The "Big Sex Talk" is only hard if parents refuse to realize:

A) Their kids are going to and do grow up.

B) Are too hung-up on their religion.

It was not hard or uncomfortable!

Maybe they're relieved, lol

I imagine they feel deceived-and they WERE deceived. This girl is a user.

You are a sad, racist, pathetic excuse for a human being, let alone an American. I propose we strip your citizenship and let you peddle your hatred somewhere else...anywhere else but here.

a role model? that is the problem in this country now, people like you glamorize this girl. she would be a role model if she actually helped people instead of using pregnant ones to further her own agenda. she got to stop being pregnant anytime she wanted to, do the real girls get to? this little girl is far from a role model.

Soarsis Who are you to judge I bet your a user too. I bet you have made plently of bad ideas... I have and I'm not ashamed. Get off your high horse.

Actually the teen pregnancy pact is what happened in Gloucester, Mass where a group of girls wanted to have babies and have them grow up together. The tv movie (not show) was a fictional portrayal of that, and it showed that the public is extremely extremely critical if it happened to someone else but oh if it happens in my community, it's accepted. I don't know how old you are, but I have noticed how accepted it is for white teens to get pregnant and have their kids because it is ACCEPTED now and now it is being reported as an epidemic that we have to do something about it. This has been a problem within the black/minority community for decades, but yet, there is no problem. Amazing.

As for the shows, don't watch them.

i have to agree, it seems that white teen girls get preggo and theres all sorts of resources and everyone wants to help but when minorities have children too early its planned parent hood or exile not only from society but a lot of times from their families too. im not sure if this is an in house problem or if minority parents are being influenced by outside prejudice :/ sad but this girl is awesome!

Well, if a child is that easily influenced, something's gone wrong. :/ A parent should have a good sit down with their child if they feel like Teen Mom is glamorizing pregnancy (which it's not, in my opinion)... Not that hard.

And I don't think teen pregnancy is accepted. Tolerated? Yes. Accepted? No. She'll always be the chick who got pregnant, or the whore/slut, etc. And besides, when they get pregnant and no one accepts it, what are they supposed to do? Kick the baby out of their stomach when people start shaking their heads? It's too late, then.

Krykies. Did someone have their eggs grumpy side up?

an amazing future by starting to lie in highschool? sounds more like she was using other peoples problems to further her 15 minutes. she and the school would have been better served if she actually tried to help one of the girls in her class who was pregnant. what she did was slap every pregnant teen in the face by pulling this prank. then she slaps them again by saying she doesnt have to be pregnant for a dance? what about the girls who are pregnant? maybe she should donate the scholarship she got to the local planned parenthood.

I totally agre with soarsis. Except for the Planned Parenthood part. What a deceitful girl. This little "experiment" helped no one but the girl who performed it. Maybe she should go into acting.

I wouldn't donate the scholarship to planned parenthood, since they are the largest abortion providers in the U.S.

She should donate the scholarship to a pregnancy resource center, or a girl who is actually pregnant.

soarsis and Lou:

You seem upset that Gaby had to lie to run this experiment and that there are pregnant teens who can't whip off their bellies to attend a dance. Did you even once think that the real expectant teen mothers are being subjected to the same rumors, speculation, and viciousness that Gaby experienced and now others might actually think about their actions/words and spare these poor girls the pain?

Soarsis (gee, so many ways I can spin that) and Lou:

Lying (ethically speaking) is when you deceive others either personal gain or to avoid punishment.

What Gaby did was for a CONSTRUCTIVE purpose...she didn't swindle people out of millions of dollars (as Bernie Madoff did). She didn't try to deny an affair (as former President Clinton and soon to be former Senator Ensign did). There are "Case Study" projects where people are asked to either give information or perform activities for research purposes...does that make scientists and scholars low down dirty cheats?

So go back to the Fox Forum...where it's "fair and balanced" (riiiiiight).

Exactly what was that constructive purpose, Mr. Sanders? What has she revealed that we didn't ALREADY know? That pregnant teens get stigmatized and stereotyped? Old news. That things aren't always as they appear? No kidding.

Case studies and experiments are designed to test and validate a theory that has yet to be validated. At best, this experiment may have taught the students who knew her that their treatment of her was based on a false belief - and perhaps their opinions of her were thus based on stereotypes rather than fact. Maybe it taught those students how easy it is to be swayed by "mob mentality". Perhaps some of these students will rethink how they perceive those around them. If so, what she did could be considered an object lesson for her classmates and friends. But to classify this as an actual experiment? Sorry, I don't see the revelation.

FYI grad...you know she was a high school student, right? I would assume being a college student, you had to do research, case studies, etc. What you're saying essentially is contradicting itself.

And yes...a CONSTRUCTIVE purpose. Teen pregnancy is an issue. A book report could have been 'safer', but it is those who try to think outside the box that will get noticed.

Maybe USC should try to get her, but I bet she'll go to U of W or somewhere else more classy. Just saying.

You are a sick f*ck! Probably from some hick town in Ohio or Indiana. Shame on you! I'm sure this crap floats well at your teabagger rallies!

rarelogic.. the best response to someone who is trolling is no response, rather then denigrating people in states you obviously know nothing about. If the person is baiting you and you continue to rise to the bait you have only proven he is either smarter than you or that you lack the self control to ignore his comments.

If you ignore him he will go away eventually, he is seeking attention.

You're right, but it would still be nice if the moderators would take notice.

Well rarelogic, is that a stereotype? Hick town in Indiana or Ohio? I guess you are above all the other stereotypers here?

Delana, I think she went over everything with her principal including the lying to family members to see how they really are when it comes to getting the real reactions. I can tell you people can be very brutal and I know I am one who has to restrict my comments to family members with certain situations.

trollollollollolloll....

Just for clarification. The boyfriend was told.

What principles? Lying and deceit?

Who lied?

Did you even read the article? Mother, boyfriend and principle knew it was for a senior project on discrimination, gender bias and slander.

She is brave enough in her own principles to subject her very character to open insults and mistreatment by society and her peers.......and YOU proved her point! YOU, the god fearing fool played right into it. How tolerant of you.

Open your mind a little to see the message she is setting for her generation........... DON"T JUDGE!

Something you clearly have no problem doing....especially as a christian - very hypocritical and unjesus like........lol

She lied to everyone else.

It wasn't a lie.

It was a well thought out societal experiment with a begining and an end for a purpose of study and report.

I believe her point is not teen pregnancy as much as how people who were her friends, family, teachers and others responded to it. Did they remain friends? Did they spread rumors? Did they turn away and judge her for her action? THAT is the lesson.

I know what the intended lesson was. The problem is, the ones in need of a lesson are those who are becoming pregnant, not those who shun it! I believe it is ridiculous! Teen pregnancy should not be accepted... In fact, I don't believe they should be allowed to remain in public school as an additional expense to tax payers. The whole thing should have nipped in the bud a very long time ago...instead we build day care centers for 15 year olds, RIDICULOUS!!!! Again, keep lowering the bar!

The lessons come from analyzing the data from the experiment, not from doing the experiment. I would be very interested in reading the young woman's report. If she is really clever, she could write a book on the information she gathered and her analysis of the information.

The ones who are in need of the lesson are parents! I believe that parents are where it all starts. If you are brought up a certain way, that is the way you will most likely live your life. Not to say that people cannot change, but typically that is the way it works. Pregnant teens should not be allowed in public schools? Stop living in the 1970's.

HEY --be thankful these girls are going to school and graduating. At least they will have the option of college.

AND perhaps the fathers of these babies should not be in school either perhaps they should be working at dead end jobs without a future to help support their progeny!!!!

Wake up Mark this isn't the 1950's!

CatinMO - I'll save you the suspense...some of her friends stood by her. Some separated from her. Some of her peers said negative things about her. Some didn't. Some of her teachers judged her negatively. Some didn't. A vast majority of the people probably gave little thought to it one way or another. No great lessons on life here. I have nothing against the project, but I certainly don't think anyone's lives were changed forever on this one. Quite frankly they are probably fortunate that the boyfriend's parents didn't crack under the stress created from this...would have been a wonderful story if the father droped dead of a heart attack...

I'm with you Ben. We are supposed to embrace everything today. It is beyond ridiculous.

hey, i don't support pregnancy out of wedlock either, but that doesn't mean you should abuse and slander those who have done it. teen moms are humans too, we all make mistakes...just some bigger than others.

George and Ben:

This project is probably ridiculous to the two of you because you just don't get it. Nowhere in the article is it even remotely intimated that teen pregnancy is "supposed to be embraced" or making it more acceptable to have children out of wedlock. Did you bother to read the article?

The project involves revealing what it's like to be a pregnant teen and stereotypes. Out of that, how do you walk away with the notion that you're SUPPOSED to embrace pregnant teens? Could it be you're wrestling with some stereotypes of your own creation?

Tortcots-2851476

they aren't the ones who missed the point of the article, they just read in between the lines while you read what you saw. when it comes down to it ben and george are right.

I'm all for the fact she's against the ostracism that comes with teen pregnancy which fair enough might put some students off but now if someone is determined to get pregnant or it just happens within that age group, this experiment says, "that's okay!". what it says to me is that all those who took part in the ostracism in whatever form will now realise they are hypocrites and the next girl who is actually pregnant might not have to go through all of that not because people's minds have been changed but because people are afraid of now being called hypocrites in case she turns out be fake pregnant. that's not breaking down stereotypes that's just shutting people up from expressing who they truly are. in my opinion, i'd rather my friends and rubbish showed their true colours in my time of need, that way at least i know who i can and cannot trust. What this experiment has done is ensure that perhaps you'll never know now because people will be fake around you anyway in case you wind up faking a pregnancy.

i'll give her props for the idea but i don't see what big deal is about the result except that it says there's nothing wrong with teen pregnancy

If you're not from the area, you won't understand. But don't knock her project just because you can't get the gist of it from this one, single article about it.

Joyceeee

if you must know, i've read more than one article on his because believe it or not i do want to read this paper. anyone with half a brain can get "the gist" of it. You're defending her paper about stereotypes which in a nutshell is making unsupported presumptions about someone or something, how did you know i'd only read one article?

second "if you're not from the are, you won't understand" what is teen pregnancy secluded to just the area where she lived? I'm pretty sure no matter where you come from you can at least empathise. It's not that hard to do in this day and age. i appreciate she wanted to be able to sympathise among other things, i just don't see what the big deal is especially as it seems so predictable. i say seems again because i want to read it. if it is predictable should i get the chance to read it, then that's what it is.

Blase,

The reply I posted was supposed to be attached to a different comment, not yours.

But since you decided to comment back then I shall do the same. My comment of "if you're not from the area, you won't understand" had nothing to do with teen pregnancy itself (again, this was supposed to be attached to another comment) but the fact that where we live teen pregnancy is either viewed as an inevitable event or an abhorrent event. Nearly everyone I have ever heard speak about the topic has a strong opinion and yet it is not a topic that comes up in a community-wide forum. Now, thanks to Gaby's experience, it has.

The "gist" part of my comment had everything to do with the post I thought I was responding to.