5 Things Statistics Don’t Tell You About Teenage Pregnancy
In 2013, the U.S. pregnancy rate among girls between 15 and 19 was 26.6 births for every 1,000, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy. In Louis Ck’s stand up piece Girls vs. Women, he jokes, “You’re not a woman until people come out of your vagina and step on your dreams.” Unfortunately, this is a common misconception about teenage pregnancy. Teenage mothers as well as fathers often receive labels such as “irresponsible” and “uncaring”, and often the statistics support the accusations. However, individuals are not composed of a series of numbers, and while statistic may give an accurate account of conditions, they do not portray circumstances.
1. We did not “ask for this”. Every teenage parent has a different story and faces different obstacles. Stop burdening us with punishment.
Teens moms face many stereotypes. Some of those stereotypes include being part of a minority group, living in poverty, and being drug addicts. Not every young girl who becomes pregnant has had a rough life complete with inevitable failure. Teenage parenthood comes with many stresses. Along with the burdens placed on the teenage body, teenage parents are also responsible for the well-being of another individual. In many cases, there are no special accommodations made for the increasing stress placed on the teenage body. For example, pregnant teens are expected to abide by scheduled bathroom breaks and must strictly adhere to guidelines concerning tardiness in between classes. However, during the later months of pregnancy, the increased weight on the bladder and the loosing of ligament in preparation for childbirth makes these two tasks excruciating impossible. Do not use them as a painful reminder of a decision we are taking responsibility for.
2. We don’t give up hope.
Only one-third of adolescent mothers will graduate high school, and only slightly over 1 percent of those will earn a college degree before they turn 30. However, not every teenage mother will drop out of high school. In fact, some of us go on to graduate at the top of our class. Additionally, a few of us go on and excel in college as well. Please refrain from congratulating us if you must follow it with “even though you had a child”. Trust us, we know that we are parents. We still have dreams and asapirations that go above and beyond a high school diploma. Don’t discourage us.
3. We can hear and see very well.
Teenage pregnancy comes with stigma. In Oregon, high school senior, Maria Miranda, pretended to be pregnant as part of a social experiment. She and a group of her friends and teachers collected the rumors they heard concerning her pregnancy, and they were revealed as an end of the year project. Some of the comments collected included, “Great! Another child having a child.” As well as “How stupid could you be?” Teenage pregnancy in itself is a burden, but the stigma that comes along with it follows an individual her entire life. Don’t pass judgement when it is unnecessary. Being a teen mom takes courage and perseverance. We are not cautionary tales. In fact, unknown to most, it may break confidentiality clauses if any teacher discusses a student’s pregnancy with any faculty member without consent. Pregnancy is considered a health condition, and it cannot be used as a form of discrimination.
4. We love our kids. Stop making us feel guilty about making memories of our pregnancies.
According to the Dr. Phil show, “Daughters of teen moms are three times more likely to become teenage mothers themselves. The sons of teen moms are two times more likely to end up in prison.” Often, when a teenage mother expresses her love for her child, she is reprimanded. Reports show that on many occasions, high school seniors are not allowed to include their children in their yearbook pictures. Some girls reported being denied access to certain afterschool activities because of their children. Teenage mother is not equivalent to bad mother. We have just as much of a right to make memories as any other mother. Pregnancy is not a revocation of individual rights.
5. We are not irresponsible.
The most popular form of teenage contraception, the male condom, is 82% effective in preventing pregnancy when used correctly, which means that 18 in 100 will become pregnant. In 2013, 47% of high school students reported having sexual intercourse. This means that nearly half of all high school teenagers are sexually active. While there are several different contraceptive methods available, their attainability is not as convenient as the condom. While abstinence in the most effective solution, it is unlikely to be practiced by 100% of teens. With that being said, contraception of all kinds will occasionally fail, and some teens will get pregnant just as some adults do. Do not assume that all teenage parents are reckless. This, however, is not to be taken as an excuse for teenage pregnancy. It is only to say that if by chance a teenage pregnancy happens to occur, proceed with caution.
