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.
I think this has a lot of good points. Youth are being forced to grow up a lot faster, although we're told we aren't adults until we have a stable income and relationship. But society changes the standards and the neccessity to marry becomes pushed to the side. The statistics regarding HIV and unplanned pregnancy were a bit shocking but not when put into context.
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Marilyn
This article was very informative. It was interesting to see teenagers redirecting their focuses from marriage to education. I believe that is a big problem in several socities across the globe. Teenagers are far to fixated on marriages and sexual relationships which have caused an increase in the epidemic of teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. I think if there were more programs invented that showed teenagers the positive aspects that education has to offer maybe that would help them stay focused and avoid these negative situations. A great program I happen to be apart of was No Limit Ladies, this group was an empowerment group for young teen girls that help with self-esteem and allowed you to set certain educational goals and means to attain them. We had a motto that we would recite " I am a NO LIMIT LADY, and there is nothing I can not do! I am committed to success, helping others, and be the absolute best woman I can be. For if I can conceive it, believe it, then I can achieve it. Its organizations like this that teens today need more of.
ReplyDeleteI know it was kinda shocking to think that in South Africa, education is almost considered a bad thing.Like in the paragraph they are saying it delays marriage, and educaion doesnt always mean a job so that in return causes stress and major health risks.
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