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.