The Cause of Teen Pregnancy in America

Jasmin Anderson

English IV 7B Mrs. Jones 2 April 2014

Anderson i Outline Thesis: Research and case studies show that the percentage of teen pregnancy is so high in America because of lack of sex education, peer pressure, media & society, being under the influence, not using birth control, family history, and rape. I. Research has proven that being a teen mom brings too much responsibility that causes them to drop out of school. A. Being a teen parent is the leading reason that teen girls drop out of school B. According to ACLU approximately seventy percent of teenage females that give birth drop out of school. C. Teen pregnancy isnt just more responsibility on the teen, but it causes health risk to the mother and baby. II. Counter argument A. Being a mother is a full time job. B. Balancing school and parenting can be too much to handle. III. Teenage girls are getting pregnant because theyre lacking sex education. A. A report released by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveyed 5,000 girls in nineteen states unintentionally got pregnant and gave birth. B. Fifty percent of these girls did not use birth control and one third of these girls didnt think they could get pregnant

Anderson ii C. Research has proven that the reason most teenage girls get pregnant is because theyre uneducated D. If schools had sex education classes, less teenage girls would become pregnant. IV. Counter argument. A. There is some truth to the argument that the reason most teenage girls are getting pregnant is due to the lack of sex education in school; however, research has shown that teenagers learn the most at home. B. Its very important for parents to inform their kids about safe sex and the conflicts they can encounter if they dont practice it. C. Studies show that some parents depend on the schools to educate their kids on sex because theyre uncomfortable about the situation. V. Peer pressure cause pregnancy A. To fit in with the rest of their peers, teens would engage in sexual activity without being fully ready. B. Teenagers have sex as a way to appear cool and older than what they really are, but in some cases the end result is an unplanned teen pregnancy (Langham PhD). C. Thirty-three percent of pregnant teens stated that they felt that they were not ready for a sexual relationship, but proceeded. VI. Counter argument A. While it is true that teens should be smarter and not give into sex because everyone else is doing this doesnt account for the fact that teens have a huge influence on their peers.

Anderson iii B. While it can become embarrassing because everyone is teasing you for being immature or scary, its best to wait until youre ready for sexual intercourse. C. Studies have shown that people who have unprepared sex can become pregnant because they dont know what theyre doing. VII. Media causes teen pregnancy by glamorizing the pregnant teens on television. A. When teens see other girls their age showing off their bellys on the big screen they start to believe its acceptable, because no ones judging them. B. MTV Shows how cool teen pregnancy is with a new reality series, which gives teen girls the idea that it is all right to have premarital sex and become pregnant. C. The fact that many of the stars on this show become celebrities overnight, gives off the impression that having a child while in high school is one way to get attention (Dockterman). VIII. Counter argument A. There is some truth to the argument that teen birth rates have dropped since the reality show Teen Mom has aired, but some teen girls were getting pregnant on purpose just to get an audition for the show. B. According to Gill, the teen pregnancy birthrates and abortions in the US are way higher than western countries. IX. Alcohol contributes to teenage pregnancy. A. While drinking and having sex may be unofficially authorized milestones in the typical American teen's coming of age, a new study reveals that more and

Anderson iv more adolescents are experimenting with both, leaving themselves susceptible to pregnancy, disease and violence (Mixing sex and alcohol). B. Teen pregnancy can be a result of impaired judgment while under the influence of alcohol. C. When under the influence, you become extremely vulnerable and youre not able to control your emotions as well as you usually do. X. Counter argument A. There is some truth to the argument that teen birth rates have dropped since the reality show Teen Mom has aired, but some teen girls were getting pregnant on purpose just to get an audition for the show. B. According to Gill, the teen pregnancy birthrates and abortions in the US are way higher than western countries. XI. Unprotected sex causes teen pregnancy A. Studies have shown that some teens think it is okay to have unprotected sex. B. A lot of teenagers that are sexually active dont understand the consequences of not using protection or contraceptives. C. According to Global post, some teens don't think you can get pregnant the first time you have sex or they falsely believe that having sex in a certain position can prevent you from getting pregnant.

Anderson v D. Approximately ninety-one percent of pregnant teens reported that although they were drinking at the time, they did not originally plan to have sex when they conceived (Langham). XII. Counter argument against unprotected sex causing teen pregnancy A. Even if its true that you dont always get pregnant while having unprotected sex, the chances are still extremely high. B. When they are used correctly, condoms are about ninety-eight percent effective in preventing pregnancy. C. The high rates of teen pregnancy are due to the low rate of contraceptive (Study looks at teen pregnancy). XIII. Teen pregnancy caused my teen mom having a teen mom A. The daughters of young teen mothers are 3 times more likely to become teen mothers themselves compared to those of non-teen mothers (Teen health). B. An analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data shows that early childbearing is much more common among the daughters of adolescent mothers. C. In addition, daughters of adolescent mothers are more susceptible than their mothers to economic dependence and less likely to escape poverty. XIV. Counter argument against Teen pregnancy caused my teen mom having a teen mom. A. Some research claims that teen pregnancy patterns can be ended with more knowledge, but kids are influenced the most at home. B. If theyre used to growing up with a teen mom with low income they wont expect more for themselves.

Anderson vi C. The children of teen mothers are more likely to suffer health and cognitive problems, come in contact with the child welfare and correctional systems, live in poverty, and drop out of high school. XV. Teen pregnancy caused by rape. A. Sexual assault and statutory rape are also major reason why teen pregnancy rates are so high B. . According to the Guttmacher Institute, between forty-three and sixty-two percent of teens acknowledge that they were impregnated by an adult male. C. According to livestrong approximately five percent of women aged twelve to forty-five are the result of a rape. XVI. Conclusion A. Studies show that teens that have an open relationship with their parents are less likely to have a child in their teenage years. B. By monitoring your childrens life, being an active parent, and educating them on sex every moment you get can lower the teen pregnancy rate.

Anderson 1 3 in 10 teen girls in the US will get pregnant at least once before age 20.That's more than 700,000 teen pregnancies each year (Stay teen). The United States of America has the highest percent of teenage pregnancies. Lack of education is the main reason why the rates are so high. Being a teen mom is becoming a trend that a lot of American teen girls are unwillingly setting. Research and case studies show that the percentage of teen pregnancy is so high in America because of lack of sex education, peer pressure, media & society, being under the influence, not using birth control, family history, and rape. Being a teen parent is the leading reason that teen girls drop out of school. More than half of teen mothers never graduate from high school (Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012).According to ACLU approximately seventy percent of teenage females that give birth drop out of school .Teen pregnancy isnt just more responsibility on the teen, but it causes health risk to the mother and baby. According to Medline Often, teenage mothers don't get prenatal care fast enough, which can lead to problems later on. They have a higher risk for pregnancy-related high blood pressure and its complications. Risks for the baby include premature birth and a low birth weight. There is some truth to the argument that states teen moms should stay in school; however being a mother is a full time job. Balancing school and parenting can be too much to handle. Also going to school and facing your peers can be pretty scary. Teen moms have to deal with the world judging them because of a mistake that a lot of girls make. A report released by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveyed 5,000 girls in nineteen states unintentionally got pregnant and gave birth. Fifty percent of these

Anderson 2 girls did not use birth control and one third of these girls didnt think they could get pregnant. Research has proven that the reason most teenage girls get pregnant is because theyre uneducated. Beadle pointed out that Mississippi has the highest teen birth rate in America and they dont require sex education to their students. New Hampshire has the lowest teen birth rate in America and they require comprehensive sex education in schools that includes abstinence and information about condoms and contraception. If schools had sex education classes, less teenage girls would become pregnant. There is some truth to the argument that the reason most teenage girls are getting pregnant is due to the lack of sex education in school, however, research has shown that teenagers learn the most at home. Its very important for parents to inform their kids about safe sex and the conflicts they can encounter if they dont practice it. Studies show that some parents depend on the schools to educate their kids on sex because theyre uncomfortable about the situation. Thats not a good idea, because as said earlier, not all schools have sex education classes. The child will then be forced to learn on its own, by peers, or from the media and thats where the confusion kicks in. In their teenage years most kids undergo peer pressure. To fit in with the rest of their peers, teens would engage in sexual activity without being fully ready. Teenagers have sex as a way to appear cool and older than what they really are, but in some cases the end result is an unplanned teen pregnancy (Langham PhD). The Kaiser Family Foundation states that more than twenty-nine percent of pregnant teenagers reported that they felt pressured to have sex. Thirty-

Anderson 3 three percent of pregnant teens stated that they felt that they were not ready for a sexual relationship, but proceeded. While it is true that teens should be smarter and not give into sex because everyone else is doing this doesnt account for the fact that teens have a huge influence on their peers. Its hard to say no when everybody around you is talking about how cool it is, or how youre scary because you havent had sex yet. While it can become embarrassing because everyone is teasing you for being immature or scary, its best to wait until youre ready for sexual intercourse. Studies have shown that people who have unprepared sex can become pregnant because they dont know what theyre doing. Media plays a huge role in teenage pregnancy by glamorizing teen pregnancy. When teens see other girls their age showing off their bellys on the big screen they start to believe its acceptable, because no ones judging them. The problem is that they dont get to see the entire picture. There are a lot of movies and shows dealing with teen pregnancy: teen mom, 16 and pregnant, pregnancy pact, Juno etc. While these shows are here to help, they dont always do just that. Teen mom seems to be the most popular. MTV Shows how cool teen pregnancy is with a new reality series, which gives teen girls the idea that it is alright to have premarital sex and become pregnant. In a way its condoning teen pregnancy. The fact that many of the stars on this show become celebrities overnight, gives off the impression that having a child while in high school is one way to get attention (Dockterman). What teen girl doesnt want to be on the cover of a magazine and get paid just for making a baby?

Anderson 4 There is some truth to the argument that teen birth rates have dropped since the reality show Teen Mom has aired, but some teen girls were getting pregnant on purpose just to get an audition for the show. According to Gill, the teen pregnancy birthrates and abortions in the US are way higher than western countries. Teen mom and 16 and pregnant helped lower birthrates, but America still has the highest percentage so the show isnt much help. There are not too many teens that will be able to say no if you ask them if theyve tried a drug or alcohol at least once. While drinking and having sex may be unofficially authorized milestones in the typical American teen's coming of age, a new study reveals that more and more adolescents are experimenting with both, leaving themselves susceptible to pregnancy, disease and violence (Mixing sex and alcohol). Teen pregnancy can be a result of impaired judgment while under the influence of alcohol. When under the influence, you become extremely vulnerable and youre not able to control your emotions as well as you usually do. Not being able to control your impulses, contributes to seventy-five percent of pregnancies that occur between the ages fourteen and twenty-one. Approximately ninety-one percent of pregnant teens reported that although they were drinking at the time, they did not originally plan to have sex when they conceived (Langham). The argument that people should be able to control their liquor and know their limit has some validity when it comes down to drinking, but teenagers brains arent fully developed. Research shows that brain development continues well into a persons twenties. Alcohol can affect this development, and contribute to a range of problems. Researcher thinks that teens are more vulnerable to bad decision making because the pleasure part of the brain matures before the

Anderson 5 part of the brain responsible for impulse executive and control decision making. In other words, teenagers' want for pleasure reaches adult proportions well before their capacity for good decision making does. Studies have shown that some teens think it is okay to have unprotected sex. A lot of teenagers that are sexually active dont understand the consequences of not using protection or contraceptives. According to Global post, some teens don't think you can get pregnant the first time you have sex or they falsely believe that having sex in a certain position can prevent you from getting pregnant. They would come up with excuses like it doesnt feel the same, pull out method, Im on birth control, and theres always plan B. None of these methods are 100 percent guaranteed not to get you pregnant, including condoms. Condoms are indeed much safer than those other methods. Even with birth control, you may not get pregnant while on it but you can still get an STD which is even worse than a baby. Even if its true that you dont always get pregnant while having unprotected sex, the chances are still extremely high. When they are used correctly, condoms are about ninety-eight percent effective in preventing pregnancy. The high rates of teen pregnancy are due to the low rate of contraceptive (Study looks at teen pregnancy). Gill reports only four out of ten sexually active teens in the United States of America rely on contraceptives or other kinds of birth control. While the use of contraceptives has increased among teens, theyre still not using it enough. Some teenagers may decide to use birth control to help prevent teenage pregnancy, but most of them do not use contraceptives consistently. Yes, using contraceptive sometimes is

Anderson 6 better than never using it; however, to prevent teenage pregnancy it should be used all the time. A sexually active teenager that does not use any source of birth control has a ninety percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year their first sexual experience. Some of the reasons that birth control is because the teens arent educated about birth control methods, uncomfortable using birth control methods and unable to access the birth control (Teen help). The daughters of young teen mothers are 3 times more likely to become teen mothers themselves compared to those of non-teen mothers (Teen health). An analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data shows that early childbearing is much more common among the daughters of adolescent mothers. In addition, daughters of adolescent mothers are more susceptible than their mothers to economic dependence and less likely to escape poverty. This pattern goes on and on and makes it hard for the children. Children of teen parents tend to do worst in school, and get into more trouble. Some research claims that teen pregnancy patterns can be ended with more knowledge, but kids are influenced the most at home. If theyre used to growing up with a teen mom with low income they wont expect more for themselves. They get used to the life style they are living with and become comfortable. The children of teen mothers are more likely to suffer health and cognitive problems, come in contact with the child welfare and correctional systems, live in poverty, and drop out of high school. Now, there are some teen mothers that try to end the pattern by teaching their daughters that there is more to the world than being a teenage mother and living through the system.

Anderson 7 Sexual assault and statutory rape are also major reason why teen pregnancy rates are so high. Sexual assault by family members, boyfriends, and even strangers can all result in teen pregnancy. There is some argument that rape is usually considered a very valid reason for abortion and particularly when you were so young however it is important that each person makes a choice that makes them most comfortable. According to the Guttmacher Institute, between forty-three and sixty-two percent of teens acknowledge that they were impregnated by an adult male. According to livestrong approximately five percent of women aged twelve to forty-five are the result of a rape. This is equivalent to approximately 32,000 pregnancies as a result of rape. Becoming a parent is not the end of the road for teen moms, but it would be best to wait. When you have a baby within your teenage years, it hinders you from completing high school and having a profession in life Children who are born to teen moms often do not have an even start in life. They are more likely to grow up in a poor and single parent family, to live in a poor or underclass community, and to experience high risks to both their potential school achievement and health status (Flanagan). Studies show that teens that have an open relationship with their parents are less likely to have a child in their teenage years. By monitoring your childrens life, being an active parent, and educating them on sex every moment you get can lower the teen pregnancy rate.

Anderson 8 Works Cited Birth in their teen years. Policy and practice Aug. 2010: 48.Academic Onefile . Web. 26 Feb.2014. Index: week of September 28, 2012. UNWIRE text 28 Sept. 2012: 1. Academic onefile web. 26 Feb. 2014. Krasus, Daniel The pregnancy project. Booklist 15 Feb. 2012: 38t. educators Reference complete. Web. 11 Mar. 2014 Parental consent requirement for birth control may up U.S teen pregnancy rates. Womens health weekly 23 Sept. 2004: 56. Academic Onefile. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. School attendance rules may harm welfare mothers needing child care. Report on preschool programs. 7 Sept. 2005: 134 educators reference complete. Web.11 Mar. 2014. Suellentrop, Tricia. Diary of a teenage mother. Booklist 1 Apr. 2002: 1346. Educators reference complete.bweb.11 march. 2014. Sun, Feifei. The reality TV Rise of the teen mom. Time 18 July 2011. Educators reference complete. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. Teens contraceptive use marked by inconsistency. Contraceptive technology update 1 June 2000. Academic onefile. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.