Teen pregnancy rates rose in 2006 and 2007 after steadily declining between 1991 and 2005, according to a report released on Thursday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some experts say that teens are less educated about pregnancy prevention today than before due to an increase in abstinence education in schools. They say abstinence education has led to a rise in teen pregnancy because teens will have sex anyway and are becoming pregnant for lack of knowledge. I don’t believe this is true. According to this logic, not teaching teens about sex would prevent them from having it. The use of birth control is so widespread, you would have to live under a rock to not know how to use it. Its use is shown in TV, movies and commercials.
I agree with abstinence advocates that teaching teens about pregnancy prevention is sending a mixed message. We are telling them “don’t have sex, but if you do have sex, here are some ways you can prevent pregnancy.” The underlying assumption is that they will have sex. Problems arise when the sexual act is disconnected from childbearing. Pregnancy is a natural result of sex, and even with birth control, is not 100% preventable. The main purpose of birth control in this country has not been to prevent pregnancy in the family setting, but rather to promote “risk free” sex that may or may not occur within the confines of marriage. I believe that disassociating sex from the marriage relationship and family leads to other problems, such as the break down of the family unit, promiscuity, infidelity, emotional problems and an increase of sexually transmitted infections, among other issues.
I think the rise in pregnancy is a result of a cultural shift in the stigma associated with teen sex and pregnancy. Could it be that the popularity of movies like Juno and shows like 16 and Pregnant have influenced the teen population in a negative way? With stories in the news like the “pregnancy pact,” one begins to wonder. It certainly can’t help that teen celebrities like Jamie Lynn Spears and Keisha Castle Hughes have made teen pregnancy look glamorous. On the other end, teen sex featured in movies and television rarely results in any adverse consequences.
I am aware that I have touched on some hot topics. Why do you think this country has seen a rise in teen pregnancy? What are the consequences?