Does Madonna's lyrics send negative
messages about teenage pregnancy?
(OCR) -- Everyone's sure what Madonna is singing about, but no one seems to
agree on exactly what it is. Pepsico decided the singer's "Like a Prayer" video was so
objectionable that it dropped her from an ad campaign in May; even though it had
already paid her $2 million for it.
Planned Parenthood thinks Madonna encourages teenage pregnancy. Yet many
college students say her song and video, "Papa Don't Preach," is about a real loser,
according to an ongoing study by researchers from several institutions - including
Rutgers University., and the Universities of Denver, North Carolina-Chapel Hill and
North Carolina-Greensboro.
The students say the video - in which Madonna plays the role of a pregnant,
unmarried woman and states "I'm gonna have my baby" - is a misleading. It falsely
suggests that everything is going to work out if you love each other. And, they ask,
"Where is the boyfriend?"
But not all college students agree on the singer's message. Many black students said
the song wasn't about teenage pregnancy. Instead, they say, the "baby" the woman
wants to keep is her boyfriend.
The researchers are particularly concerned about how younger teens interpret
Madonna's videos, and are currently polling 11- to 15-year-olds for their views on her
work.
The Capital Times
urges you to join a campus
club or organization
today!!!
Students speak out:
Jenny Cahill
Capital Times Staff
enny McDonald, Communications, age
O.
Colombia "I think we should
legalize it (drugs) and tax it."
America "We ought to legalize it
(here) and tax it too."
Education "Drug education starts in
the home. If you have strong family
values then there's nothing you can't
overcome."
User "Any drug user is an
addict...some addictions are deeper than
others."
Students were asked the following questions about illegal drugs in America: What do you think about the
drug problem in Colombia? In your opinion, what should America do about our drug problem? How
should we approach drug education? How do you feel about the user?
Jodie Whiteket
21.
Colombia "I think its not just a
Colombian problem."
America "America should concentrate
on not letting drugs into the country.
Also, more enforcement by the police."
Education "We should approach
(drug) education in the home and the
school."
User "I think a lot of people use
drugs recreationally at first. They think
they can't become an addict... then it
happens."
ommunications, age Mark Waters, Psychology, age 25
IDIC
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What do you think?
Colombia "I think it's not just a
Colombian problem, it's our problem."
America "We need to adress it from
all sides, the supply side, the demand
side, through drug and alcohol
rehabilitation. Alcohol is a drug too!"
Education "We need to start
educating kids at a young age."
User "There is no typical drug
profile. It crosses all boundries. We need
a multi-dimensional approach because
people use personal reasons."
September 13, 1989, CAPITAL TIMES
Colombia "I don't know much about
Colombia."
America "I think back in the sixties
and seventies America sent the wrong
message to the people. By saying we're
not prosecuting the casual drug user, we
condoned drug use."
Education "I tell my four year old
son about drugs."
User "I think there is a personally
type... an addictive personality. They're
born that way."