Teen Pregnancy Norms Affected By Race, Religion, And Social Status

Mothers who performed poor in academic and have a lower educational level can both play as risks factor in teen pregnancy. According to Finer & Zolna (2014), the percentage of pregnancies for those who are not high school graduates yet had the highest percentage of unintended pregnancies. This statistic of those who are not high school graduates yet were compared to high school graduates, some colleges, associates and college graduates. The percentage of unintended pregnancy in not high school graduates were 54% compared to 31% of those who have college degrees. The results showed that the number of unintended and intended pregnancies in not high school graduates and high school graduates keep on increasing from 2001-2008, while the number of unintended and intended pregnancies in college degrees keep on decreasing from 2001-2008.

When we look at influences, it is hard to say what precisely is the main pressure of teen pregnancies in the United States is. Each year, almost 750,000 teenage women, in the United States of America, ages 15 to 19 become pregnant (U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics, 2006). Worldwide, rates of

For many years teen pregnancy has been a national social problem. Views have changed over the years as society has started to adapt to the thought of teen pregnancy. “Growing evidence suggests that pre-existing academic and economic hardships play a role in the continuing struggles of teen mothers. While 85% of young women who delay having their first child until at least twenty or twenty – one obtain a high school diploma or GED, only 63% of mothers who give birth by age seventeen do so” (Crosson- Tower p255)

Society in general is currently addressing the social problem of teen pregnancy in several ways. One of the most important is an increase in parent’s willingness to not only bring the issue up and discuss it with their children, but also allowing educators to address the issue in schools.

Teenage pregnancy is a major issue socially, economically, and emotionally. Especially in the United states where rates are astoundingly high. In "Politicians, Teen's and Birth control by Nicholas Kristof "and "Teens and Sex in Europe from the advocates for youth organization" the issues surrounding teenage pregnancy was addressed. Comparison's were shown between the US and other countries' approach toward such a delicate matter.

In the 1950s, the frequency of teenage births in the United States was already high, and since that, time has decreased, although the number of births outside marriage has increased. Thus, in 1990 the rate was 61.8 births, pregnancy rate - 116.9 per 1,000. The incidence of teenage pregnancy has decreased significantly in the 1990s. This decline is observed in all racial groups, but Teenagers, African Americans and Hispanic teens remain higher frequency compared with Americans of European and Asian origin. Guttmacher Institute, about 25% of this decline carried her share of sexual abstinence and 75% - on the effective use of contraceptives. However, in 2006 the first time in 14 years, the incidence of teenage births has increased. This would imply that the incidence rates of teenage pregnancy are also on the rise, but marked by the rise could be linked to other sources: for example, reducing the number of abortions or a decrease in the number of abortions.

Social forces play a role in our life much more often that one can conceive. Simple choices and decisions are influenced by one 's culture, religion, economic status, the degree of education, or even where one lives. How have these struggles to conform to societal norms shaped the person we are today?

Adolescents who have parents that are uninvolved in their lives have a greater chance of becoming pregnant than those with parents who are very concerned with their children’s lives (Singh, et al.). Adolescents who feel they do not get enough attention at home from their parents or siblings will sometimes intentionally get pregnant to draw attention to themselves and to feel important (Miller 16). For example, when kids have parents that are constantly working, they sometimes feel lonely and will try to get pregnant so they can feel less alone (Miller 16). Teens that have divorced or separated parents may think that becoming pregnant will give their parents a reason to be together, so they intentionally get pregnant to try and bring their family closer (Miller 16). Teens that live with both of their parents are a lot less likely to become pregnant (“Trends in Teen Pregnancy and Childbearing”). Another time that adolescents will intentionally get pregnant is when they have a lot of brothers and sisters. These teens may feel that they are unimportant because their parents have to divide their time and money between however many children they have (Miller 16). Getting pregnant makes them think that they will get more attention from their parents, so they think it’s a great idea, when they really have no clue what they are

For decades teen pregnancy has been a social problem in our society. According to Paschal, Wodarski and Feit (2006), “Nearly one million teen pregnancies between the ages of 15 and 19 take place each year in the United States. A majority of the available research is focused on the teen mother.” (p.106). Even though we have seen a decrease over the past decade; teen pregnancy continues to be an issue of concern with a higher number of pregnancies seen in the African American community. The United States reports a greater number of teen pregnancies compared to other countries. In recent years, the United States has had the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy of any of the world’s developed nations (Santelli, Lindberg, Finer, and Singh, 2007).

Pregnancy and parenthood is a significantly life- altering event that anyone could experience. These two life events inquire not only physical but mental obstacles. What happens when these events occur when your body is not physically developed and your mental maturity is not fully ripened? This happens too often amongst the teen age population. In the United States, teen pregnancies are the highest when compared to other developed countries. Teen births account for 10% of all births in the United States. (NCHS) While the only way to solve this issue is to educate teens on prevention, Hispanics continue to have the highest teen pregnancy rates because lack of financial resources, lack of formal sexual education, and cultural beliefs.

Throughout our lives we go through and experienced many milestones that help to shape our character. For many people all over the world having a baby proves to not only be one of the most memorable milestones but also one of the most challenging. Most people imagine themselves having a baby when they are older, married to the love of their life, and financially stable, in order to give their child the best life they can possibly have. For many having a baby while still in high school seems unimaginable for several different reasons from having to grow up all at once, to having to put your life on hold in order to provide for your new child. Unfortunately there has been an increase in teen pregnancies all throughout the United States,so much so that some people might even call it a trend. With such an alarming increase in teen pregnancies with no real cause for the spike it has left many people pointing their finger at the media for glamorizing teen pregnancies. There are several different factors that contribute to the increased risk of becoming pregnant for young teens,but glamorization the subject has continued to be one of the top reason.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a literature review of teen pregnancy and public perception. The chapter will begin by examining the decrease of teen pregnancy in America. It will transition to understanding the emotional effects on teen mothers and depict how a pregnant teen’s life could be altered. It will conclude by discussing how the topic of teen pregnancy has caused the President of the United States to take a closer look. This chapter will end with a summary of my research findings.

Disparities still persist to this day in social and economic context. The conditions that some teenagers face in communities and families may contribute to teen pregnancy. Within the social domain, peers are a big risk factor for teen pregnancy. Some factors include sexual pressure from peers, belief that most peers are sexually active, friends who are sexually active, dating at an early age, and dating someone who is a few years older than you (Southeastern Idaho Public Health, n.d.). Many teenagers feel the pressure from their peers to have sex before they are ready. Those who decide to give into peer pressure often are not informed about safe sexual behavior and therefore may become pregnant. The same goes for those who believe that most of their peers are sexually active. Surveys have shown that many teenagers report a greater percent than actual for the following question: What percent of your peers do you think are sexually active? The pressure that comes from assuming that most of your peers are sexually active can play a huge role in a teenager’s decision to participate in early sexual activity. Friends are just as much of a risk factor as family is. If a friend is sexually active, the pressure to fit in and be similar to them starts developing. In these peer situations, it is most likely a teenager’s first time having sex. In that case, there is a lack of knowledge that puts teenagers at risk of becoming pregnant. Dating at an early age can make a teenager curious

Like Amy and Loeber (2009), when it comes to the ecological paradigm of teenage pregnancy, Corcoran, Franklin, and Bennett (2000) also believe one’s socioeconomic status is a huge factor that contributes to this problem. A person’s socioeconomic status a lot of times determines “education, expanded family size, single-parent household structure, and lessened resources in terms of employment and income.” These three authors claim that educational performance and goals “dictate the potential costs of child bearing at a young age.” Their studies have also shown that teenage girls’ relationships with the school setting and poorer performance in school serve a greater risk for adolescent pregnancy.

"Teen pregnancy in the United States: In 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years old, for a birth rate of 22.3 per 1,000 women in this age group. This is another record for U.S. teens and a drop of 8% from 2014. Although reasons for the declines are not totally clear, evidence suggests these declines are due to more teens abstaining from sexual activity, and more teens who are sexually active using birth control than in previous years. Still, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is substantially higher than in other western industrialized nations, and racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in teen birth rates persist (cdc.gov)." As teenagers (in the United States), we are peer pressured or tempted to try new things. Some teens tend to try out drugs, and alcohol. However, some are having unprotected sex in which, is leads to having babies. This is called, teenage pregnancy. This has caused the United States to create records based off of the statistics and facts given from, researchers across the United States. In order to help prevent teenage pregnancy in the United States, teenagers must understand why, having a baby now isn’t such a smart move on their part.