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Teen Vogue is sounding the alarm over a growing number of states requiring students to view fetal development videos like “Meet Baby Olivia” in sex education classes — calling the pro-life material “manipulative” and accusing its creators of advancing a political agenda.
The animated video, produced by Live Action, shows a child developing in the womb from the moment of conception. It has already been adopted in six states as part of newly passed fetal development education laws.
According to Live Action, the goal is to educate students on the science of life in the womb and foster “a reverence for life as children at impressionable ages develop their world view.”
But Teen Vogue views this growing educational trend as a threat. In an article published Aug. 5, the magazine highlighting critics who accused Meet Baby Olivia of emotional manipulation.
Therapist Stephanie Vazzano, quoted in the article, said the video is “set up to come from a moralistic and fear-based place as opposed to a medical or wellness model.”
While acknowledging that “they do have some facts,” she added, “when you watch them you can be really seduced by those facts … but then these other things get slipped in.”
The piece quotes abortion industry-aligned experts who claim the video uses “non-scientific language” and evokes an “emotional response” that could influence students’ views on abortion.
Teen Vogue‘s report targeted lawmakers like Tennessee Rep. Gino Bulso, who helped pass one of the first laws requiring students to view Baby Olivia or a fetal ultrasound during sex ed.
Since then, more than 20 states have introduced similar legislation, and roughly four million students will now view fetal development videos during the school year.
The video’s content, highlighting the humanity of the child in the womb and showing her movement, growth, and early development, has proven effective. Live Action reports a “37-point shift toward the pro-life perspective among viewers.”
Noah Brandt, Live Action’s vice president of communications, sees that as confirmation the message resonates.
“It is intuitive that, after watching that, people would be less likely to support abortion on demand,” he said.
Teen Vogue and its quoted critics accuse pro-life groups of using emotion to “indoctrinate” students.
“I don’t know how you indoctrinate somebody with the truth of the development of life … or the truth that these are the types of procedures of abortions,” said New Hampshire Rep. John Sellers, a Republican, who introduced legislation to require Live Action’s videos in schools, according to Teen Vogue. “I can’t see that being indoctrination.”
>> Pro-life leader says teaching kids prenatal biology is the future of the movement <<
