
A senior at Lake Stevens High School, Danica Esau wanted to know what it feels like to be a pregnant teen.
So she staged an elaborate pregnancy hoax, complete with maternity clothes, pickles and a well-researched story (
photo). And she kept it up for four months -- even her teachers and friends were convinced. "I want to know what it feels like to be a teen mom who's pregnant going through high school," she said
in a video diary on YouTube. "I want to know if people will ridicule her." Just like the movie Juno, Danica said people treated her and her parents differently. "I think we should be more supportive," she says. When Danica finally revealed that it was all a hoax, she
told the Everett Herald that she lost some friends. "I don't want people to look at it as an attention-getter," she said, adding that she did it to help girls who are going through the real thing.
Perverted and a disgrace to all TRUE mothers. Particularly disturbing to women who are unable to conceive, who have had problem pregnancies or miscarriages. SHAME ON HER.
I think it was a great experiment to see how people truely react to teen mothers. She was trying to show how shallow some paople truely are no matter how much they deny it. I comend the young women for this.
And Tessa, I commend you on your pride in alternative spellings of common words! Way to go girl! Don't you ever let Spellcheck tell you what to do!
Due to the fact this was not a financial gain for her to do this during the *experience*, there is nothing wrong with what she did. She was able to see what is would really be like to be a pregnant teen as the pregnant teen herself as well as see how society see's and treats her. If she hasnt already done her senior project - this would be a great project to do. She was able to keep it quiet for the entire experiment. Oh I am sure some of her close friends were upset over not feeling *trusted* enough to confide in them, but isnt that what an experiment is all about - if people know - the results would not be accurate. Word would have gotten out slowly *tell you something but dont tell anyone - as everyone eventually finds out* Good for you hun for taking the challenge. The experience and the tenn pregnancy is not as easy as you expected was it? Bet you truly learned alot. An different well thoughout article needs to be done.
Tell me though at least your parents knew what was going on??? That alone would have been a cruel joke to play on parents even if it was for a short period of time. Dealing with the fact parents have a hard time excepting their child would be pregnant and then after they have really absorbed the fact their *lil girl* is going to be a *mommy* and the fact they were going to be grandparents and then find out it was a hoax would be very devasting someone. Friends will get over it, parents on the other had is a different emotion.
Anyways - those mad about this will eventually get over it. Those that dont bounce back - they werent really your friend.
Hope you were able to obtain the information about your experiment after all is said and done. You've got so many avenues you could write about on this issue. Good Luck Hun!!! JAMIE
Wow Shannon! You're a feisty one aren't you? It's people like you that make me feel no sympathy for pregnant teens. It was their choice to lay on their backs and spread their legs! This girl came away with a new experience and all you can do is blam her! It's not her fault that some women have miscarriages, and/or aren't able to conceive!
My guess is either you regret spreading your legs in your teen years, or are just really bitter about your last miscarriage, or is it that your ovaries are already dried up before you had a kid?
Don't worry dear, there's ALWAYS adoption!
From what I've seen, people regard teen mothers as sluts, which is faaaaar from the truth. People really are Two-Faced and this experiment showed that. I think Shannon's comments are way off the mark and she should be ashamed of herself. What Danica did is great; to see people's true reactions. If she lost friends over this, then they weren't true friends to begin with.
I was adopted in 1967. Shannon, at that time my birth parent was 17. At that age, and not being married, the public looked down on you and you hid from society. She did what was right,and it might have helped others in her age group or class. If you are bitter about not having a child, adopt one!
Oh, and by the way BORK..Oh did I spell that wrong?? Comment on the subject not peoples errors.
I was a teen Mom. What Danica did was awesome. If more teen girls were like her then there wouldn't be so many stuck up snobs in todays world. I now have 3 children and I feel bad that they have to grow up in a society of people like Shannon.
I would much rather know the outcome of Danica's experiment on You-Tube than see a bunch of hoodlum maniac 14 year olds beating up a fellow student. Way to go Danica! This world is full of double standards...and that is probably what people are having issues with...the TRUTH.
Shannon, it is not Danica's fault that some women can not conceive. This is not what her experiment was about. There was absolutely nothing wrong with what she did and if her "friends" can't handle it, tough. The only way to keep a secret is to never tell the secret in the first place. It would not have been long before the whole school knew about it. It must have been really hard for her to pull this off.
She seems like a very smart girl. Good on ya Danica!
I've known Danica for years and as from what she's toldme (I was away at school when the actual experiment took place so I was in the dark), she told her parents, her little sister, her boyfriend, and his parents. Her mom was a teen mother herself and is very supportive of Danica.
why would you do this?
you did this to get attention and that was wronge how dare you that ius hurful to many younge pregnant girls out there. it is not easy!