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The main character in Juno, also named Juno, is a sixteen year old girl who lives with her father, step-mother, and sister in a suburban home in Minnesota. The movie Juno confronts the trials and tribulations of teenage pregnancy, ethical decisions, and adolescence itself. Juno shows maturity towards an unplanned pregnancy, and dealing with the subsequent everyday life of a teenager.

One important idea to focus in on is Juno’s personality. Juno tries to be different than the social norm present in her high school. While her best friend Leah is a popular cheerleader, Juno tries to establish herself with an identity as a freaky girl. An example of this is when the jock makes fun of her and she says that secretly jocks crave the type of girl who wear "horn-rimmed glasses and vegan footwear" (Juno 12.08). Juno shows her unusual style with mismatched outfits and not wearing any make up. This goes against the social norm of girls wearing makeup and wearing cute matching outfits. Juno also is different because she gnaws on a pipe like a cheerleader might snap gum; she also plays guitar and sings in a garage band, which is very uncommon for most girls her age to behave this way.

One theory that can summarize Juno’s personality is Erik Erikson’s Identity Versus Role Confusion stage of psychosocial development (Lifespan p.341). This stage of Erikson’s theory is for teenagers between childhood and adulthood. Erikson’s theory applies to kids who are usually in middle or high school. This stage is dedicated to teens finding an identity, and not being confused by role confusion. According to the Lifespan Development, “an Identity is an understanding of one’s unique characteristics and how they have been, presently are, and will be manifested across ages, situations, and social roles” (p.341). Role confusion occurs when an adolescent is burdened by occupational roles, sexual roles, religious roles, and others, which leads to them being unsure of their place in society (Lifespan p.341). Role confusion can affect people in different aspects of their lives. Juno experiences some role confusion and uncertainties with her pregnancy and the relationship with her baby’s biological father Paulie Bleaker. Even though she goes through these issues, she still goes to great lengths to differentiate herself from her peers with her unfashionable clothing and hair styles, as if she is attempting to create her unique identity and not fall victim to the identity crisis’ around her school. Juno’s need to be different gives credibility to Erikson's theory that an adolescent will explore and construct an identity.

Another theory present in Juno is the idea of adolescents following thier peers in small decisions. According to Snowman, McCown, and Biehler, the authors of Psychology Applied to Teaching, general types of physical, social, emotional and cognitive human behaviors may be organized into five levels corresponding to grade groupings in school. A common social characteristic of an adolescent in high school is to act like their peer groups by the way they dress, their word choices, and hobbies (Psychology Applied, p.100). High School students look to their parents in long term situations, such as values, ethics, and future plans (Psychology Applied, p100). These behaviors are shown by Juno throughout the movie. Juno refers to her boyfriend Pauly Bleaker as being boss (Juno, 129.50). Another example of Juno’s hip lingo is when she calls Mark and Victoria’s ad picture in the Penny Saver wicked (Juno, 28.27). Snowman, McCown, and Biehler’s theory shows that Juno follows the influences and cues from her peers, but later on the movie she also is influenced by her father in a major life decision. Just like Snowman’s theory, Juno’s core personality such as her values, ethics, and future plans seems to be influenced by her father. In one of the most important scenes of the movie Juno finds out that Mark is planning to divorce Victoria, close to the time when Juno is due (109.00). Juno is hurt by this because she thought Mark and Victoria were the perfect marriage and were going to be great parents to her child. Distraught from the situation Juno gets advice from her dad about whether or not love can last, and that marriages can survive in the real world (118.30). Juno’s dad gives Juno guidance and assurance by referencing his successful marriage to Juno’s step mom. The conversation Juno has with her dad helps her to settle her long term decisions of committing to follow through with the adoption process to Vanessa, and to commit to her awkward relationship with Paulie Bleeker. Both of these actions exemplify how teens may follow whatever pop culture they learn from their peers, but make major decisions based on what they learn from their parents.

Another aspect to look at in Juno is the ethical decisions she made towards what to do with her child. One choice Juno looks into is abortion. At (8.00) into the movie Juno talks to Leah on the phone about her pregnancy. Once Leah finds out Juno is not joking she brings up the idea of whether Juno will go to Safe Haven or Women Now to get an abortion. Leah never considers the idea of Juno keeping the baby. Leah also brings up how she called Women now to help set up an appointment for her friend Becky last year (Juno 8.14). Hearing the girls talk so casually about abortion may seem unusual, but one third of all teen pregnancies end in abortion (Lifespan p.316). Another percentage that is relatable in Juno is that 7 percent of white teens who are pregnant carry the baby to term, and then put it up for adoption (Lifespan p.316).

When Juno arrived at the abortion clinic she saw her classmate Su Chin holding an anti-abortion sign. Su Chin tells Juno that fetuses have fingernails right before Juno goes into the clinic (Juno 17.40). While in the clinic she can’t stop looking at everybody’s finger nails. At this point she feels the guilt of ending her pregnancy and decides to give birth to the child. This scene demonstrates both the role of abortion in teenage life and Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. Kohlberg’s theory of moral development lists six stages of moral reasoning (Lifespan p.350). The stages are broken down to levels of preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. Juno’s reaction would be stage 6 under the postconventional level. Stage six is called universal ethical principles (Lifespan p.350). A description of this stage says that a small number of adults who reason at this stage develop and follow self-chosen ethical principles in determining what is right. This applies to Juno when she chooses to have the child and give it up for adoption. 7 percent of white teens who are pregnant carry the baby to term, and then put it up for adoption (Lifespan p.316). Juno is able to choose what she believes to be ethically correct and follows through with it.

The other part the movie magnifies is how common abortion is in adolescents. At 8 minutes into the movie Juno talks to Leah on the phone about her pregnancy. Once Leah finds out Juno is not joking she brings up the idea of whether Juno will go to Safe Haven or Women Now to get an abortion. Leah never considers the idea of Juno keeping the baby. Leah also brings up how she called Women now to help set up an appointment for her friend Becky last year (Juno 8.14). Hearing the girls talk so casually about abortion may seem unusual, but one third of all teen pregnancies end in abortion (Lifespan p.316).

One major issue that leads to teenage pregnancy is a child living in a single parent household (Lifespan p.317). One statistic in favor of having a mother live with her kids is that, adolescent girls are less likely to get pregnant if their mothers have positive communications to them about sex and contraception (Lifespan p.316). Juno did not have a strong mother figure in her life because her mom left her family when she was 5 (Juno 8.30). One could tell that Juno not having her mom has greatly affected her because the only time Juno mentions her is to talk about her new life in Arizona with her husband and three replacement kids (Juno 15.35). Juno goes on to say her mom buys her a cactus every Valentine’s Day, and all she wants to tell her mom is that this cactus gram hurts more than your abandonment (Juno 15.44). Hearing Juno say these things about her mother brings up suspicion that she is envious of the replacement kids for taking her mother, and is mad at her mom for abandoning her. One question to ask is whether or not the cycle could continue for Juno’s child because Victoria is a loving mother, but if the baby does not have a father figure, then he is more susceptible to becoming a father at a young age.

Seeing Juno’s mother issues makes it more believable for her getting pregnant at sixteen. One can only wonder that if Juno had a normal family then maybe she would not have gotten pregnant. Even though Juno has had a step mom for most of her life she is not close with her. One issue common with step parents is that the family will become less authoritative then when the biological parents were together (Lifespan 230). This can often happen for the step parent does not feel like he or she has the authority to yell at or discipline their spouse’s children. One can easily see throughout the movie that Juno has complete control to do whatever she pleases. Juno’s dad gives her more of an permissive parenting approach by not scold her or punish her for becoming pregnant, and she is allowed to come and go without a curfew which is very uncommon freedom for a sixteen year old high school student to have.

The last issue I want to mention is behavioral drugs. Juno mentions to Su Chin at the abortion clinic that she can sell Su some Adderall to help her with her schoolwork. Su turns down the offer, but Juno tells her about a time that someone she knew took to many behavioral drugs and stripped naked into the mall fountain (Juno 17.13). After hearing this story it turns out that Juno was the friend who had a bad reaction to the drugs. This is a common issue because teens are being diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, when in reality they do not have either of these diseases. Some studies have shown that the kid’s response to Adderall could just be the changes in expectations from teachers and parents (Lifespan p.270). Another issue present is Juno’s reaction to use Adderall to improve school work. Kids commonly all the time use Adderall to pull all-nighter’s and write term papers or study. One study from today.msnbc.com looked into college kids using Adderall for school work. One student said “It’s given me the boost to work non-stop for 10 hours a day,” he explained. “Baseball players take steroids to be the best and students take Adderall to be the best. It’s steroids for school.” (Steroids for School). Another student called the pills study buddies. Adderall is very easy to become addicted to. Stephen Odom, a drug abuse counselor at Sober Living by the Sea, said “For all intents and purposes, Adderall is speed. You’re putting something in your body that’s gonna make you think you’re OK when you’re not. And the next thing you know, you’re gonna be spinning out of control.” (Steroids for School). Juno’s meltdown was just an eye opener to what kind of addiction and trips people could have for abusing behavioral drugs.

It is easy to see why audiences, critics, and psychologists loved Juno. One review by Jeremy Clyman, M.A. from Psychology.com shared his love for Juno saying “Her story is as far removed from the stereotypical teen-pregnancy narrative as is known - it's practically a different genre. In "Juno" we have an independent-minded teenager who is wise and secure beyond her years and just so happens to be pregnant”. Another review by Dr. Rayne said that, “I loved Juno. I thought it was a smart, interesting, and real portrayal of teenage pregnancy. The only negative to the movie is that Juno is too mature for her age (Adolescent Sexuality). Both authors bring up the issue of Juno being to mature, but I see that as a way of making the bad situation of her being pregnant appealing for an audience to see, as well as making her a role model for any teenagers who have an unplanned pregnancy. Juno is an important movie to human growth and development because it goes over the issues of abortion, creating an identity, divorce, step parents, behavior drugs, parenting skills, and much more. It is crazy to think that one can get caught up with her pregnancy and missed most of these major issues, but the first time I saw this movie I did not know it contained all of this.

Sources Bee, Henry, Boyd, Dennis (2009). Lifespan Development. Carroll, Linda. Steroids for school’: College students get hooked on ‘smart drugs’. [] school-college-students-get-hooked-smart-drugs/#.T5YayNR_SqQ Clyman, Jeremy. Why We Love Juno. [] Snowman, J., McCown, R., & Biehler, R. (2009). Psychology Applied to Teaching Rayne, Dr. Karen. Adolescent Sexuality. []

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__Subject Matter—20 points out of 20__

__Higher-Order Thinking—20 points out of 20__ :

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Grade: 100/100