In recent statistics and research, the overall level of teenage pregnancy has decreased. Even though there is still too much finger-pointing, lies, stereotyping, and shaming of pregnant teenagers, this article focuses on myths, misconceptions, and stereotyping that teen moms should know.
Stop telling pregnancy lies to teen moms!
The topic of teenage pregnancy is sensitive, especially since young girls undergo a life-changing process of motherhood. Recent research and statistics show fewer teen pregnancies, but this still doesn't mean that teens have stopped having sex!
Finding out that you're pregnant in high school is a terrifying thing that could happen to a girl. The fear of the tremendous adversity that a teen would face for getting the word out there forces teens into making quick decisions like abortion without consultation.
Unintended pregnancy is not always a consequence of irresponsible sex, and this is because, even in taking precautions, there is no preventive measure that is considered 100%. So choosing to have sex is accepting that anything can go wrong.
Teenage pregnancy is viewed as a poor life choice, a serious life risk for the mothers and their children, for they have to face education and social and economic disadvantages despite the evidence of resilience from adolescent mothering in decades.
However, this is not the case; it is just the case of normative constructions of prevailing middle-class values of prioritizing education, career planning, and late pregnancy.
Common Lies, Misconceptions & Stereotyping about Teen Pregnancy
No more Career! Focus on Parenthood!
It is a great misconception that society has for teen parents, and it has sunk most active lives. Teen parents are stereotyped as failures in society. Teens have seen it all, struggling with the negativity in the community, some with little support, if any from relatives and friends.
Lawyers, engineers, and scientists all at some point in their lives become pregnant. Is it the end of their careers? It is just another chapter of life where you grow a different perceptive of viewing growth and maturity in making decisions. It is not shameful to be pregnant, but it is disgraceful to stereotype and tell lies about teenage pregnancy.
Things have changed, with assistance provided through literacy programs to enable teen parents to graduate, they can bring their children to daycare facilities. At the same time, they go to class and still play an active role in providing support, nursing their babies even changing diapers.
These teens have dreams, goals, and determination as to any other person in society. With so much negativity, one would think that they would not live a happy life. Some have their own apartments. They don't see their pregnancy as something to be ashamed of, but instead, it is the incentive for them their work hard to achieve more and give their children a more desirable life.
Teen parents are seeking an easy way out and looking for Handouts.
The stereotype arose from the fact that teen moms receive government assistance, and most men seem to be victims of child support and feel targeted. Teen moms are being accused of seeking an easy way out for their future by trapping men into pregnancy.
Most of these teens come from minority populations and get little assistance from relatives, if any, some have been chased out of their homes and are emotionally traumatized at such a young age and time that they need more support.
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Without assistance from the government, by providing scholarships and mentorships to the students, how will they better themselves? The teens are still the ones who do all the hard work since they have to seek means of supporting themselves.
21st-century teens are more immature than teenagers back in the day
The older generation- society blames the pre-dominant number of teenage pregnancies in the 21st century due to sex-craving-immaturity among youth.
Early pregnancy is commonly associated with the negative stereotype of poor parenting, family breakdown, and welfare dependency.
We'll, un-purposed pregnancy is not always a consequence of irresponsible sex. Deciding to have sex is accepting that anything can go wrong. Even taking all kinds of precautions, there is still no 100% guarantee.
So much attention has been given to the problems and disadvantages of teen mothering and regarded as a risk. Yet, when they face uninstitutionalised social support like parenting programs framed within the negative stereotype, they may experience increased maternal stress that may have them turn away from the services that we're addressing their needs.
Forget about Co-parenting; You are alone!
It is just a general idea. Yes, most teen pregnancies leave girls alone in making decisions since most guys fear commitments. But it is unfair to say that teen dads don't want to be involved in their kid's life.
Fathers are an integral part of the family, and they need to stay involved in the everyday life of their families. They are the direction and pathfinders, and women are the hope of families, they should be both very committed to each other and have the urge to better themselves.
Teen dads can deliberately be introduced to parenting programs to learn about parenting responsibilities and the emotional strength that teen moms need.
What should society do?
The decrease in teen pregnancy is not yet since the fact remains that teens are having pre-mature sex.
So what should we do to stop so much maternal stress to teen parents?
Defense against stigma- Teenage mothers are required to disavow themselves from intentional pregnancy. Women should plan their pregnancies to fit in with their careers, and life goals, and applaud self-determination.
Contraception use- the use of contraception is still a debate. Women, especially teens, should not be forced into contraceptive use but instead be educated about sex life. No precautionary method is 100% guaranteed as most pregnancies have been associated with failed contraception in the past.
Reaction to pregnancy- let us stop deflecting accusations, it is a challenge to report a pregnancy while still a teen. Let's share feelings of pleasure to shore intent for pregnancy as most women desire to become pregnant at some point in their life.
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