Juno and the Culture Wars

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After coming to terms that she indeed is pregnant, Juno decides to go to an abortion clinic. This is another controversial point in the movie because it is showing another change in society’s views about pregnancy. Juno exhibits no hesitation, she just wants to get rid of the baby so that she can resume her regular life. However, the movie contradicts itself in this scene by showing an empty parking lot as Juno is approaching the clinic, ultimately suggesting that hardly any people come to abortion clinics. Although the movie initially advocates abortion as an acceptable way to solve the problem, it also portrays the strong opposition around the issue. The movie accurately models the balance between public opinion concerning pro-choice and pro-life.

When confronting her parents with the news, Juno is rather blunt and just comes out with it. Her parents are disappointed with the news, however they immediately offer support. This suggest society’s acceptance with the increasing rate of teen pregnancy. By depicting Juno’s parents in this way, the movie captures their views of teenage pregnancy and hints at the larger picture, which is society’s acceptance with teenage pregnancy. Also, “Juno seems to deal with her unplanned pregnancy in a somewhat lighthearted, sarcastic manor,” This shows that an unplanned pregnancy, something that would have been seen as an act that would tarnish any young woman’s reputation, is now viewed as an almost normal occurrence, even though it may not be the most common. This also shows the progression of values in modern film.

In the end, the parents in which Juno has decided to give her baby to, Mark and Vanessa, decide to get a divorce. This scene in the movie is significant because it illustrates the changing gender roles in society effectively. Juno still wants Vanessa to be the mother of the baby because she knew how much Vanessa wanted to have a baby. Although Juno’s plan for the baby to be raised in a family with a mother and a father was not going to happen, allowing the single mother to raise the child highlights another change. Single parents are an increasing occurrence in every day society as more and more marriages are ending in divorce. The frequency of a single working mother in today’s society is not uncommon, and it shows changing gender roles because not all children have a female and male figure to look up to throughout their childhood, as single parents are left to raise their children alone.

Although stereotypes and old social views in the media are extremely prevalent, Juno is one of the first of its’ kind to present the changing societal and gender views regarding teenage pregnancy. Juno took the public by storm as it presented the struggles of a teenage girl coming to terms with her unplanned pregnancy. Before this movie, teenage pregnancy was viewed with negative connotations, and with the release of Juno brought about a change in the way teen pregnancy and gender roles are portrayed in the media by influencing television shows to adopt similar themes. The movie directly and indirectly appeals to the audience by hinting toward current social views. By illustrating sex in a casual manor, rendering the reality that birth control is not one hundred percent effective, depicting Juno’s parents reactions as supportive, and challenging traditional family roles by allowing a single parent to adopt the child, it is clear that the release of Juno stood as a turning point of sorts, in reflecting the changing social attitudes regarding teenage pregnancy and gender issues.