Jamie Lynn Spears Should Be Bristol Palin's Role Model

By Rebecca Macatee Posted Aug 13th 2010 08:00PM

Pop-Ed: How many teenage girls in the spotlight need to get pregnant before we stop peddling purity rings and start teaching safe sex?

Bristol Palin's mother, former Alaskan governor and Vice Presidential Republican candidate Sarah Palin, was ironically enough a big proponent of abstinence only sex education in public schools. So when Bristol got pregnant at 17, the effectiveness of such a rigid sex-ed program was scrutinized.

Jamie Lynn Spears, on the other hand, starred in her own tween show, 'Zoey 101,' from 2005 to 2008. She's the younger sister of Britney Spears, the Disney-raised star who once claimed to be "saving herself" for marriage. Jamie Lynn showed that, like her big sis, she wasn't that innocent. At age 16, she shocked kids and parents alike when she announced that she was pregnant.

Both teenage moms made bank selling the first photos of their kids to tabloids. Both tried to make it work with their hometown baby daddies, but ultimately broke things off. And both bravely stood by their decisions to accept responsibility for their actions and raise their children.

But Bristol could learn a lesson from Jamie Lynn. Since the birth of her daughter, Maddie Briann, Jamie Lynn has been laying low in Liberty, Mississippi. Her acting career seems to be on a slight hiatus, and we haven't seen much of her in the press.

This much needed break from fame is exactly what Jamie Lynn needs in order to survive in Hollywood. She'll reemerge in a few years, older and more mature, and resurrect her career. And because we won't have been bombarded with her through her most trying of times, she'll seem fresh and new and we'll be willing to give her that second chance.

Bristol might not be pursuing an acting career, but she, too, needs to step out of the limelight. (To do this I'd strongly recommend putting a firm barrier between herself and fame-hungry Levi Johnston.) It's almost making a mockery of her situation by acting as a spokeswoman for abstinence. Clearly that mindset didn't work too well for her in the past.

Unlike most teenage mothers, Bristol is extremely fortunate to have the funds and support to go to school. She's expressed interest in public relations, and I think the best thing she could do is quietly pursue a degree in that. Then, in a few years, she'll have that slight notoriety from her past brush with stardom, a degree to back it up, and some substantial self-reflection under her belt. At that point Bristol, like I expect Jamie Lynn will do, can move forward in her chosen career and adult life. Both girls' "mistakes" from their pasts will be chalked up as life lessons that were ultimately rewarding, character building, and with enough patience, career boosting.

Tags: bristol palin, jamie lynn spears

Comments

(36)

Friday 13 August

By JaneB3

Vote down Vote up Report this

Apple's don't fall far from the tree. Bristol would rather follow in her Grizzly Mom's footsteps and be fodder for the media.

By yahoofashion86

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑hehe,please click my name,get my e-page↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑

The cool sexy summer style for you

we got lots brand summer t-shirt (b a g) (s n e a k e r) (s a n d l e) (s u n g l a s s) (c a p s) etc...

All famous brand and hot (style)!!

[n i k e ] [ j o r d a n ] [s u p r a ] [S h o x ] [P u m a ] PRICE 35 U S D
[l v ] [c o a c h ] [p r a d a ] [c h a n e l] [g u c c i] [ h a n d-b a g] 33U S D
[c h a n e l] [g u c c i] (p u r s e) 15U S D
[D & G] s u n g l a s s e s U S D
(new e-r-a c-a-p) 10 U S D

p a y p a l Accept,Door to Door

. Adolescent health education doesn't work with all kids. Pregnancies result from lack of parenting and maturity rather than abstinence-only education. In fact, abstinence-only education is much more effective than "safe-sex"

By Nonnie

And you know this because ............ ?? I don't recall Bristol being seen or heard from until she agreed to make an attempt to get back together with her son's father. Is that too out there in your opinion? Since she discovered that isn't going to be possible, I haven't seen one thing in the media that she was actually involved in. Seen any quotes from her? What about any video? I didn't think so ...........

When you're older and wiser you'll learn to reserve judgment.

Saturday 14 August

By sassycassie

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Nonnie-Just So You Know: Bristol Palin is the official spokesperson for Candies Abistence Program and regulary makes appearances nationwide. She has also been featured in tv roles concerning premartial sex on the Lifetime Network. A few months ago she had a several page fashion spread and interview where she discussed her current life and thoughts on premartial sex. To put it plainly, you are not the older and wiser here my dear, you are the uninformed. Keep better tabs on things before you start critizing others when you are clearly out in the cold.

By Hello

The writer of this article obviously doesn't realize that they are appearing biased and prejudiced. Adolescent health education doesn't work with all kids. Pregnancies result from lack of parenting and maturity rather than abstinence-only education. In fact, abstinence-only education is much more effective than "safe-sex" education because the bottom line is that there is no such thing as "safe-sex" (because sometimes the pill and/or condoms don't work and even with pills, there is a good potential for STD's). If more children chose to abstain from sex and stuck with their promise, they would be thankful later in life. But, I have to say, I'm happy that these young ladies decided to keep their children, for abortion is unthinkable. Abortion kills children by the millions. This is the greatest problem in the world, for if we kill our own innocent babies, what will be next? God bless.

By brbr2424

So you are saying that Sarah and Todd were bad parents? I have to agree with you there. However, Bristol planned her pregnancy so abstinance vs. birth control are both moot because they both would have prevented her from getting pregnant which is not the result she wanted.

Neither Sarah nor Todd see the value of education either formal or informal. Their celebration of ignorance has hurt their children.

By E

Oh Hello....how's the view from your high horse....who are you to judge anyone?

By Calvin Cornwall

Wouldn't Bristol Palin be a plump and juicy little piece of fruit?

By Karen

The author sounds a bit rude speaking only of career-oriented motives and their "mistakes." These children were not watched by their parents, has nothing to do with the programs in school. Now the babies have to be their focus, lest the same thing happen again. I think for Bristol's emotional well-being she needs the wall up with Levi AND the media. It's not our damn business what she does with that though. And her standing for abstinence is fitting...she is telling kids what happens when you break your promise and how hard it is, and how much worse it could be if she didn't have "mama grizzly" and her money.

By mw

Both are such role models for the teens today, they may regret it now, maybe they should of thought about it when they were dropping their pants.

By New York

GET OFF YOUR PEDESTAL. WHO ARE YOU KIDDING? THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE GIRLS & THE REST OF THE TEEN POPULATION IS THEY GOT CAUGHT & CHOSE NOT TO HAVE AN ABORTION LIKE MOST GIRLS IN THAT SITUATION WOULD DO. THEY ARE GREAT MOTHERS TO THEIR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

By debbe

Well it is kinda irritating to once again hear what the GIRLS should do but no teachings to the boys who helped put the girls in this type of situation to begin with. Especially when both of the girls became mother'rs and have done more for their children than both of the young father's have.

Again, just sickening how we always bring up the female's actions but never scrutinize the males involved.

Monday 16 August

By Jessica

Ordinarily I would agree with you, but look at Levi. He doesn't give a damn about that baby but only his so called fame. So right now it's up to Bristol to take care of her child since Levi has only proven to be another child. I wish both mothers the best of luck. However, retrospect does nothing but undermine what you must do now. So I hope they continue to take care of those babies the way they need to.

By dan

Like mother, like daughter... both are idiots..

By Giselle

I agree. Just look at Bristol's Public Service Ad. No Guys Around. Many Do Not Like Her Mother's Politics, That Is The Real Reason Why Many Do Not Like Bristol. She Is Not Her Mother. Both Young Ladies Need To Get Their Education. Move On From The Dead Weight Guys, Focus On The Kids, Get Degrees, Careers, and A Real Man Who Will Appreciate Your Unique Individual Qualities. Someone Who You Want In Your Lives, Not Clingy Needing A Man. God Bless.

By Hepzibah

You need to take your own advice and get an education so you can learn that it isn't proper to Capitalize Every Word In Every Sentence.

By K9WASTE

She should get a good education. Nobody can take that away from you.

By Charles

Just the headline alone tells you how bad our moral structure is!!

By fdv2001

lol daughter will do same as mother there is more money this way duh (same as prostitutes)other way is more fun u get more attention

Page 1 of 2