Teen Pregnancies Up

Comments: 15

Ginny H. Jul 11, 2008, 7:15pm EDT

Abstinence-only education has huge impact on things but it could also be tons of other factors like rebellion from strict households or peer pressure. It's hard to really tell without polling the teens.

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Charlene C. Jul 11, 2008, 7:17pm EDT

Abstinence worked for me. Times have changed. Kids are getting pregnant at 13 and 14 and they think it's cool.

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Julie Ann Dawson Jul 11, 2008, 7:24pm EDT

Kids don't think it's cool to get pregnant...they think it is grown up to have sex. Abstinence only programs fail because they do not admit to the one great truth about teenagers---if authority tells them not to do something, they will do it.

Kids got pregnant at 13 and 14 in the 40's and 50's and 60's too. The only difference was that the girl "went to go stay with her aunt" for six months, put the baby up for adoption, (or got a back alley abortion) and then came home and had to pretend nothing happened. The good old days weren't all that good.

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Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Jul 11, 2008, 7:28pm EDT

I'm certainly not arguing against abstinence. I am, however, wondering if abstinence-only education has had an effect on the increase in teen pregnancies. Or, could it be a feeling that it is "okay" to get pregnant?
Ginny, I agree that it could be a ton of factors, and we really do need more data directly from the teens themselves-- both the pregnant teens and the soon-to-be fathers (if known).

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Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Jul 11, 2008, 7:29pm EDT

Julie Ann, true enough.

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sharon SugarMomma is a wise woman, Jul 11, 2008, 9:27pm EDT

Abstinence only, just say no. As soon as you tell a kid they can't, they want to.

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Anne W. Jul 11, 2008, 9:49pm EDT

I'm with Julie Ann on this.

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Anne W. Jul 11, 2008, 9:49pm EDT

Thank you for posting to Point Whore! Wishing everyone many, many points!

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Juan J Martinez Jul 12, 2008, 9:15am EDT

It is a new teenage trend, just like getting your tongue pierced. It has a lot to do with society. When you have TV, teenage celebrities, Hollywood, Music all glamorizing teenage sex as cool and acceptable, this will seep into the mindset of our children and the results are clear, as in the case of the pregnancies pact between 17 high school girls in Boston.

It all goes back to the parents, with more parents working more and more and spending less and less time with their children, their influence is replaced by society, which again goes back to the decreasing moral values by the country as a whole.

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Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Jul 12, 2008, 10:08am EDT

Juan, I somewhat agree with you. There are definitely issues with people spending too much time working and not enough time interacting with their families. Even though I am fairly certain you and I take differing political views of this situation, I agree that there are some serious issues regarding a seeming decline in moral values within this society.

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Stacey (Jesus is coming soon! ) U. Jul 19, 2008, 1:51pm EDT

There certainly is, Heather, and I think that is the main problem. There isn't a "seeming decline" in moral values, there is a BIG decline. There is nothing whatsover wrong with abstinence only, but the pressure on teens today makes that impossible without the help and grace of God.

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Leo Lemmer Mar 25, 2009, 4:37pm EDT

Statistics show that "abstinence only" education does not work! (Research that yourselves if you doubt). We must have comprehensive sex education in our schools. South Carolina's successful curriculum is being cited as leading this trend. Bush wasted $360,000,000 on his abstinence only bill, and the bill is upcoming soon in Congress.

For a shock go to the library and read the March 30 Time magazine. The United States has a 42.5 pregnancy rate per every thousand births. Switzerland has 3.8; Japan, 5.1; France, 7.8; Germany, 10.1; Spain 11.5. etc

Shocking and shame on us!

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Michelle C. Apr 27, 2009, 12:45am EDT

Say no to abortion and take responsibility for getting pregnant. That's my motto and I'm a teen mommy with 2 girls back to back. I had my first at 18 and 2nd at 19 and I'm doing well. It all has worked out and things happen for a reason.

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Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Apr 27, 2009, 7:50am EDT

Michelle, I'm not clear on how stripping women of the right to choose lowers the rate of teen pregnancy. Of course, I guess those who are anti-choice can always find a way of twisting things to use them as a "reason" women shouldn't have a choice.

I'm sorry that you seem to think that teen pregnancy is fine just because you did it--not once but twice. I wouldn't want that life for any daughter that I would have. I would want for her to have the chance at an education, a decent career and, then, marriage and children.

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Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Apr 27, 2009, 7:58am EDT

Leo, it is quite obvious that abstinence only education is a failure. Of course, isn't that part of the point for certain factions to promote it? Then, when teen girls get knocked up due to a lack of access to or knowledge regarding contraceptives, they won't get an education. Instead, they will become part of the slave wage labor force and/or marry some guy with very few prospects himself.

This is a great way to keep the poor locked into poverty and women in their "place." Of course, the "religious" right-wing has brainwashed millions of working class Americans into buying into all of this. After all, it is about morals, isn't it? Not about power and control, right?

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Teen Pregnancies Up

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