The city’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) launched the campaign in March to warn teenagers about the burdens of being a young parent. But the posters displayed city-wide send a larger message to all residents: Children ruin your life.
A similar ad campaign from the Candie’s Foundation (started by the fashion company by the same name) printed celebrity-endorsed messages like, “You’re supposed to be changing the world … not changing diapers,” and “Raising a baby can cost over $10,000 a year; one night could cost you more than you think.”
Both campaigns spread the message that kids cost a lot of money and carry a lot of responsibility without mentioning the joys of child rearing. And teen moms won’t be the only ones to see ads denouncing children. In busy New York City, young women with jobs and husbands will also see the ads. They could be considering children, but ads that present only the...
Dr. Alan Cairns | 2/8/2009
