Why Teens Choose Abortion

about.com/od/teenpregnancy/a/TeenAbortReasons.htm




This week we have been talking bout choice. We did an exercise in discussion last week, were we partnered up with a classmate and one us were pregnant and as couple we had to choose wither or not we would keep the baby, give it up for adoption or have an abortion. Some of the class decided to have the baby, give it up for adoption and only two couples decided to get an abortion. For us as college students its a little different cause we are a little older and if we make a decision to get an abortion it may be a little different compared to teens. This article I found discuss why teens choose abortion. When a teenager gets pregnant it can be very emotional and although it may be hard abortion can be a choice. As said in the article "A teen considering abortion is influenced by where she lives, her religious beliefs, her relationship with her parents, access to family planning services, and the behavior of her peer group. Her educational level and socioeconomic status also play a role." I feel this is very true, especially her religious beliefs. Most religions do not even allow teenage girls to have sex before they are married, furthermore get pregnant. They are many places where teens get pregnant and it is a disgrace to their families and religion, so they opt for abortion. A teens social surroundings and socioeconomic status are also other reasons why teens choose abortion. Most teen who get pregnant live in poverty, especially in Africa and if teens feel they can not support their baby, they do not want to have it. If it is hard for the teenager to eat, it will be even harder for the mother to feed the baby. I also feel friends and parents play a huge factor in teens choosing abortion. In 16 and pregnant there is not talk about abortion, but the word comes up. Mainly from the mom or parents. Parents want the best for their children and when they find out their children are pregnant, instead of talking the girls into keeping the baby, many parents talk their children into abortion. The article also gives reasons like

Not wanting their lives changed by the birth of a baby
Not being able to afford a baby
Not feeling mature or responsible enough to raise a child


Not being able to afford a baby can tie into socioeconomic factors, but not wanting their lives changed by the birth of a baby and not feeling mature or responsible enough to raise a child are reasons I agree and I don't.  I feel like the teens that are not mature and responsible to have a baby should not have one. The baby would be at risk for a lot of things. Not wanting their lives changed by the birth of a baby I do not agree. Teens have to learn of they have sex there are consequences. What do you guys think are other reasons why teens choose abortions and do you or do you not agree with them? 

Violence, What do we do about it?

Tuesday morning  between 4 and 5 am, while most people were fast asleep, on the University of Missouri campus, a young woman was assaulted and raped. To me, this violent act is terrifying.  The reasoning behind her late hour stroll doesn’t matter. She became a victim either way.

            After the lection on Teen Dating Violence one fact became all the more clear to me. Males seem to see some sort of dominance over the female body. Seen as weaker, fragile, they seem to claim ownership over something that is not theirs to claim.

            I’m sure there are cases of male abuse in a relationship, even on this campus. I’m sure there are males that have been verbally and possibly even physically abused. But in most cases, it is females.

            Females are the victims of rape, control, intimidation. All listed on the PowerPoint on TDV.

            Teens face more pressures than young adults in college. The social environment of a high school can clash with a home environment and parental values. High schools have always been riddled with issues of social status and power, just look at Mean Girls. Parents have always been seen as figureheads of families and uninvolved in their teens life. And to be fair, most teens think that they know it all and no one can tell them differently. This, as we have discussed in class, makes for a huge communication issue. Parents can’t talk to their kids about sex, kids can’t talk to their parents. What if the issue is no longer sex, but verbal abuse?  Mean boyfriends would be forbidden, reputations would be ruined, and so most victimized teens, who don’t get out on their own, stay trapped.

            Granted, this can be the case with adult dating violence. People can often feel locked into an unhealthy relationship.  Violence and victimization just makes things worse. So many issues stem off these two interacting factions.

            The websites and videos we watched in class may have been cheesy, they may be 100% ignored by teens and they may still need some work. Regardless, I thin it’s important there is an issue at least being addressed.

                        But what about the rape on campus? Walking around and hearing people’s reactions, I realized, most people think it’s just a urban myth. That stuff like that doesn’t really happen. And until they received an email from the campus police, they forgot.

            There’s a lot of violence that has taken place on our campus in my four years here. From destruction of property to now, in my last semester, a rape. Are women just supposed to lock themselves inside their apartments and dorms as soon as the sun goes down? How are we supposed to be safe without losing all freedom? What gives these men the right to be violent and controlling? Their size? Physical dominance can be a huge factor in violent acts. Society has given men dominance over women for years, it is an idea that would be almost impossible to change.

            The other day I overheard a conversation between two girls at the library. One girl was talking about how rude her boyfriend was to her. And while it wasn’t as extreme as the video, she talked about how he let a door slam in her face, he called her names and spoke down to her. And I realized, I have some of the same issues with my male roommates. I’m all for equal treatment of women in the workplace, home, society, anywhere. But I don’t think this gives any one the right to speak down or rudely to anyone else, man or woman.

            Is this where the deeper issue behind violence stems from? Society’s downfall into a world that lacks manners and cares about the protection of people? What do y’all think?

Samantha Brayer

How Are Teenage Fathers Affetcted by Pregnancy?

This article was about how teenage fathers are affected by teenage pregnancy.  They broke the article up into five points, education, earnings, crime, financial and lack of programs. When we look at shows like 16 and pregnant, Majority of the time the teenage fathers are portrayed as bad. Now before I go any further into this post let me say I’m not taking sides. I feel as much as being a teen parent effects a mother it can very well affect a father. I am just pointing out what we don’t see on 16 and pregnant and teen mom. Most of the men or the boys shall I say on 16AP and TM can fit into every category of this article.


Education: Teens fathers are less likely to finish high school then childless peers. Most teen fathers feel they have to drop out of school and work to support their families. We saw a lot of this of  16AP and TM. Both of the shows do not show much of the fathers being in school. It’s funny that when teenage girls get pregnant the first thing parents say is that "YOU’RE going to finish school and then get a job to take care of the baby. Parents don’t say “YOU and BOBBY” are going to finish school. The first thing teen fathers hear after revealing they got a girl pregnant, is that YOU WILL GET A JOB AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR RSPONSIBLITY. Having a job and trying to work may seem like a lot but it is possible. I feel that teen fathers are not getting the support they need as far as education.
Earnings: Teen fathers earn less over time than men who have children at and older age. This is unfortunate but I can be understandable. It relates back to my first point about education. Teen fathers need to finish school to try and get better jobs. Going to collage would be even better. It’s extremely hard to apply for a job and say “I’m 18 years old, I have a kid or kids and I did not finish high school". With a lifestyle like that of course they are going to get the shitty jobs. The more education the better jobs are available. For some, not getting a good enough job may be the number one excuse for teen fathers in regards to taking care of their kids. They don’t try and give up. For others they may be trying to get good jobs but it’s just too hard.
Crime: Teen fathers are more likely to get involved with criminal behavior including alcohol, drug abuse and drug dealing. This is a point where I have no sympathy for these teen fathers. If having a baby makes teen fathers do all those things. Maybe they need to stop having sex. Period. That’s so stupid. Most teen fathers had or have fathers who have done those things and they tend to follow in their footsteps. But it shouldn’t be that way. Teen fathers should be better fathers then their own to their children. It may be a little harder for some teen fathers to not go that route and if so there needs to be more support from friends, family and the community.
Financials: Besides making less than men who wait to have children, teen fathers are required to pay child support. Now, teen fathers are not automatically required to pay child support unless the mother files and they go to court and the judge grants it. Child support can go either way with me. Yes, teen fathers should step up to the plate and take care of their responsibilities. On the other hand there are teen fathers that can barely take care of themselves, and then being court ordered to pay money each month can be hard and stressful. Not saying the baby shouldn’t be taking care of, but that it can be a struggle. On 16AP and TM, we never really see child support being talked about.
Lack of Programs: Teen fathers face a lack of teen programs aimed at helping them. I completely agree. There is no show called "16 and I got a girl pregnant" or "Teen Dad". Ok maybe that’s a stretch but that’s the point I’m trying to make. I feel that society tends to view the girl as the victim and as if her life is ruined. There are plenty of programs teaching teen girls to be mothers, but there are few teaching teen fathers to be fathers. Have you notice that on 16AP when the girl has the baby, the nurse is teaching the mom how to do things like change the baby’s diaper or warp the baby up in a blanket. We never see the nurse give the fathers a one on one session.


Teen fathers are not always the bad guys and many of them are affected by having a baby. I don’t have all the answers but if these young men got a little more support it might be a little easier.

Mom's Differ what teenmom promote

This article was about different opinions from older mothers and what they thought when they saw Teenmom. Some mothers thought the show made talking about pregnancy awkward and complicate issues. How is talking about sex/pregnancy awkward to talk about? It happens, I would rather talk to my child for 5-10 minutes about sex than have them talk about it with anyone else.

Some of the mothers thought that the show promoted teenagers to try abortion or adoption if they were challenged with that situation. They thought this because teenagers see how hard it actually is to raise a child at their age, so they would most likely take care of the situation in the only way they knew how, get rid of it.

Alot of the mothers saw the show as depressing. Though it is sad that these teenagers had to grow up so fast and at a young age, I don't see it as depressing because its a beautiful thing, things happen for a reason. I know some of the teenagers chose adoption but they were only doing for their child's future. Though some of the teen mothers are going through rough break ups or life changing situations they still have happy moments in their life. Their child.

There was a comparison in the article between other shows about teen pregnancy: for example "Secret life of American Teenager" and "Glee". Alot of parents said they would much rather have their children watch that instead of Teenmom because they used the subject more "humorously" and Teenmom was more "serious." I thought that was ridiculous because these shows show the same thing that Teenmom shows but the characters aren't actually pregnant.

Overall, teen pregnancy is happening whether these mothers like it or not. There are so many movies and shows on TV that have teen pregnancy in them. What are they going to do, have their child watch Barney. Kids grow up eventually and we need to talk to them about sex and ways to prevent pregnancy.

Kara Ramsey

Felicia has a bad Fella

Watching the 16 and Pregnant episode on Felicia, I’m amazed at quite at a number of things. The youngest of five children, Felicia watched both her sisters drop out of high school and have children young. She didn’t want to follow. So why have sex without a condom?  Felicia tells her friends she has only used a condom twice in her sexual experiences. TWICE.

As we read in Guttmacher, “Facts on American Teens' Sexual and 
Reproductive Health”

“No state explicitly requires parental consent or notification for contraceptive services. However, two states (Texas and Utah) require parental consent for contraceptive services paid for with state funds. [9]”. Felicia lives in Texas. Her overprotective mother, who from the looks of it was never a fan of Alex, probably would not have consented for contraceptive services. So, knowing she didn’t want to have children young and feeling the pressure to graduate high school, why would Felicia not use a condom?

There could be a lack of education. There could be pressure from an older boyfriend. It’s human nature to act irrationally in moments of extreme emotion. This includes what could be love. Felicia didn’t use condoms, and as far as the viewer knows, used no other forms of contraceptives. 

            I always find it interesting when the girls tell how they told their parents. “Oh my mom gave me a pregnancy test.” As if it was that simple. Felicia’s mother was heartbroken, her dream of her child finishing high school seeming far off in the distance.

“At least you’re not running away from it”- her friend says,

“Well, I lost it to him, I’m having his kid… going to stay with him.” Felicia responds.

It seems more like an punishment.

Alex and Felicia are an interesting couple. We never really find out how old Alex is or if he’s even in school. He dances and shaves heads part time.  He asks Felicia if she’s ready to be a mom, but no one ever asks if he’s ready to be a dad. (Maybe they should ask that question on condom boxes and there wouldn’t be this problem?)

 Felicia has a strong attachment to Alex, one that her friends obviously don’t understand.  Alex is rude after moving in with Felicia and her parents, speaking disrespectfully to her mother and breaking curfew.

            On top of everything else, she must try to tackle graduation requirements. She takes night classes but her new single parent lifestyle doesn’t allow much time for homework and she falls behind. Graduation might be delayed a bit more than expected.

            One thing I was a bit surprised by was the secrecy. Do we live in a generation where daughters can’t tell their mothers things? She knows about her pregnancy, but not the rather large tattoo on her stomach?  There is no trust between parent and child, or Felicia is extremely worried about disappointing her mother. They even sneak out of the house at night while Felicia’s parents are out. If everyone was just open, Felicia might not be so pregnant and there might be a lot more communication among the family.

            When push comes to shove, Alex blames Felicia for all their problems. He whines to his friends about his “baby mama drama”. Worst of all, during her painful labor, where she gets physically ill, he asks, “Why you cryin’?”  Maybe because a 8 lbs child is trying to get out?

            I was glad to see MTV showed the epidural and the painful labor process. That is not something that should ever be glamorized. And then he did the worst thing you could do. He left her. But he had good reason, he had to change clothes. With the baby, he can barely stand to feed her, instead resorting to prop the bottle up against blankets. He can’t hold his own child, he’d rather run the risk she choke on the formula he made Felicia stop doing homework to make.

            Felicia’s friends, immature and sixteen, say, “ I can’t believe this thing came out of your vagina!” While they shop for prom dresses, Felicia has to budget for diapers and strollers. Felicia states at the end of her episode she would do it differently if she had the choice.

            MTV finally makes it known that teenage pregnancy isn’t all fun and games and maybe there is something behind this whole abstinence theory. This episode showed a lot of different aspects that we haven’t seen in other Teen Moms.

-Samantha Brayer

, "ALTERNATIVE ASSIGNMENT, NOT LEAD POST--NO NEED FOR GROUP TO RESPOND".

1. The changing role of marriage i.e. economic marriage to companion marriage and how that shifts our understanding of the role of marriage and family

It is understood in society that there is a distinct difference between youth and adulthood. But when do we really reach that difference.  Most scholars dictate that it is at the age when we achieve three things: marriage, independent living, and a job. In this economy two of these things are quite difficult to acquire. There is no set age for the “end of youth”; it is something that has changed over time.

            Pregnancy without marriage has a negative stigma in our present day society. It defies the norms that society has set in place and is often looked down upon. 

            Teenagers that get pregnant, without marriage or plans for marriage are victims to this stigma. There are many factors one must consider with the role of marriage. For economical reasons, especially in an lower class that might depend on government support and food stamps, marriage might be out of the question. Companion marriage at a young age has a higher chance for divorce. We all know we weren’t quite who we were meant to be at 16, and although we may have though we knew it all, we were probably mistaken.  Marriage at a young age, only because of a pregnancy can lead to bitterness and divorce.

            Marriage, the union between two people who want to spend their lives together is a seemingly simple idea. Our understanding of marriage shifts when society begins to judge who is allowed to marry and when. The role that marriage plays in the “end of youth” also shows the distinction between child and adult. Pregnancy itself can be controversial without a ring on the left hand. But “babies having babies” and then getting married only causes more concern and negative stigmas.

            While most teenagers aren’t equipped to take care of a baby, independently of their own families, it isn’t really a radical idea. Sure, it was in a different time, but in the middle ages and industrial revolution, the average age for marriage and children was absurdly lower than societal standards today.

            Taken into consideration, the role marriage plays has drastically shifted to alter our understanding of societal norms


Samantha Brayer. 

Youth Conceptions of the transition to Adulthood in South Africa: Barriers and Opportunities   
I found two important factors in this article. One being that teenagers are waiting to have sex because their view has changed; they are thinking more about education and less about work to family life situations. Secondly, their independence and responsibilities for their family life has changed. Researchers have found that teenagers in South Africa are spending more time with their education, which means there is a delay in finding a job, and making it less necessary to get married. Consequently, education doesn’t always lead to a job. This leaves teenagers to experience high levels of frustration, stress, and depression. Because of this teenagers are prevented from attaining the social success that is important to society. This also effects teenagers sexual health like HIV/AIDS pandemic as well has unplanned pregnancy. Overall unplanned pregnancies cause poverty and lack of opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, little to no access to education, and sexual violence. The World Youth Report is now devoting it’s time to provide programs that give teenagers the option and choices to learn how to have safe sex.