Humiliation is Not Prevention: New York City's Shaming of Teen Mothers

By Valentina Forte - Hernandez, Hamphire College

I walked into the Civil Liberties and Public Policy office one Wednesday to start my day of work when I saw a co-worker looking at a picture of a crying baby. Next to the baby were words that read, “Honestly mom…chances are he won’t stay with you. What happens to me?” This image was one of several of New York City’s new ads aimed at preventing teen pregnancy. These ads started to be displayed in bus shelters and on subways in early March, and as the child and grandchild of teen mothers I was outraged.