http://tyrashow.warnerbros.com/2008/09/word_on_the_street_why_do_so_m.php
First with this link I want to say that I am NOT bashing teen moms. My mom was married with two kids by the time she was 19. All I am trying to say is with these girls 13-16 having sex and getting pregnant. You are just a baby yourself. How do you expect to raise a child on your own with our economy the way it is today ? This link gave many of the same answers to the question asked. Most of the answers were “the media” and “the parents” Those are good explanations but … what about the teenager herself? Isn’t she responsible for being sexually active and getting pregnant?
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Teenagers are privy to sex education at school, however, this “sex education” is abstinence-based. If it is abstinence-based, therefore, most schools do not touch upon the consequences of getting pregnant. I think schools need to do away with the abstinence-only program- it’s simply not logical, and not working. Teenagers should be educated on what it’s like to raise a child, how much it costs per year, and what they will ultimately miss out on being a student and raising a baby (experiences with other teenagers, having to work to support their child). It’s great if individuals DO decide to remain abstinent, but the fact of the matter is not ALL individuals are prepared to make that same decision. If they are going to engage in sexual activities, they should be educated on how to have safe sex, and be educated on the consequences of their decision. Yes, parents do have a major voice as well, and certainly should voice their opinion on pre-marital sex, but should also bear in mind that it IS happening, regardless of whether it may be right or wrong. Parents need to impress upon teenagers the importance of having SAFE sex, if they are to have sex at all. I don’t know if the media has such a huge impact on pregnancies, however. I mean, yes, a few individuals have had babies at a young age (Jamie Lynn Spears, Juno), but it is not glorified by any means. In fact, most magazines represent a haggard-looking Jamie Lynn wearing sweats and looking like she could use a good nap or two.
I think if teens had a first hand experience with raising a child the teen pregnancy population would decrease. They did this experiment on the Tyra show. A 15 year old really wanted to have a baby with her boyfriend who she wasn't steady with. A little more background, they didn't have enough money to support themselves let alone a kid, their apartment was crappy and their parents did not support this in any way. Anyways, im sure you can guess the outcome. The teen was given a baby to take care of for a week, she changed her mind and that was that. Things like this need to happen so teens know exactly what they are getting themselves into when it comes to pregnancy at such a young age.
I'll have to echo Katie on this one--comprehensive sex education programs are needed to continue to lower the rates of teen pregnancy in the US. We need to encourage abstinence AND responsible sexual encounters AND wholeness in human beings--so that fewer women and men engage in sexual actions for anything other than positive reasons and in a responsible, educated manner. If we can approach teen sexuality as an open topic that needs to be understand, supported, AND educated than perhaps this can be changed.
Hm, well coming from a teen who got pregnant myself I will openly say I was never taught Sex Ed at school as far as I remember. And of course, I remember, it was only a couple years ago. I was simple taught the anatomy of girls and guys and that was pretty much the extent of it. However, I was also do not label myself as ignorant of what happens when you have sex either. I just didn't think it would happen to me. I've watched shows and documentaries on teens who got pregnant and blah blah blah. But they are other people. They aren't me and aren't any people I know personally. It is more of an 'invincible' factor I think. I'm not disagreeing with the fact that there should be better and more efficient Sex Education classes. But teens are teens. They rarely listen to anyone and when they are told not to do something, usually they do the opposite of what they're told.
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