Income and Teen Pregnancy

[Merika]

Teens who give birth are much more likely to come from poor or low-income families (83%) than are teens who have abortions (61%) or teens in general (38%).

This was off of the main article which was posted. I thought it was very interesting.

As my daughter posted, she knows one teen who is pregnant and within our neighborhood are several who have had babies within the last couple of years.

WHY is it that teens from lower income families are more likely to get pregnant?
Does it become some wierd status symbol?
Do they feel important?
Don't they care their child is more likely to be stuck in low income forever?

NOTE: In the USA I believe poverty level is considered at any single/
joint household income of less than $32,000 a year.

[Duke]

Is it possible that many gals find comfort in the arms of another man because dad's a wife beater, drunk, criminal, or worse, never around? If a young woman finds a man she can confide in, will she not offer herself up physically to keep him?

Low income families is such a vague term especially since family has been redefined over the past dozen years. Not every family has a mommy and daddy and I believe that may be one of the root causes.

[Merika]

I think MOST of the problem with teenage girls today is due to a lack or healthy relationship with their Dad......low income or not. I totally agree with you there. With the lack of relationship and affection.....a lot of teen girls find both elsewhere.....and can end up pregnant due to it.

Years ago I read an interesting article someone who did missionary/social work in the inner cities. She stated that in poverty homes with lots of kids...where those kids have always had to share space, clothes, toys, attention, etc.....they are more prone to get pregnant because they psychologically want something which belongs just to them and loves them special.

Statistically, it's the older female child in the family who gets pregnant in her teens. So, this could support the above analogy.

[Paul]

Interesting, I was talking to my gf about this and she made several points that I wasn't aware of. Being from a single parent, low income family herself, I was telling her the statistics and asking her why she thought that she (as compared to one of her affluent friends) was more likely to become pregnant as a teen and she basically said the same thing you did Merika. I didn't realize how important that relationship with a father figure is to a child and in this case a young woman. She said that it basically was a relationship she never had so she was trying to seek approval and love from the males around her (be it her mothers boyfriend or her own) which potentially can lead to trouble for a teenage girl.

Fortunately she didn't end up pregnant (as her older sister did) but in fact turned to God instead and made some admirable changes to her lifestyle. It always impresses me how much insight she has in such matters and how aware she is how the consequences of each action will affect her. If only everyone was as intuitive as that!

[Merika]

Little girl babies should be born with a note on them to their Dads which says:

I need you....please don't leave me!

I never get over the amount of men in this world who are so self absorbed that they don't realize that the heart they most break in life belongs to their own child.

Paul C: I DO think turning to God is one way for a girl to get passed the emptiness and rejection that a dead beat Dad leaves behind. It may even be the ONLY way!

[Duke]

Little girls are truly God's greatest creation. I wanted a son but thank my lucky stars I ended up with a daughter.

[Merika]

I think a lot of men think they will identify and bond with a son easier. Once they have a daughter though....they realize it makes no difference whether the child is a boy or a girl.

This is an interesting topic indeed. My teen daughter is pregnant but in no way is she from a low income family nor does she have an absentee father. But, she has been a runaway since the age of 13. Why? We don't know.

There is also the factor of abuse is some form that might turn a teenager to do drugs or have sex. I had a friend growing up (one of my best friends) that turned to sex and drugs at around the age of 13-14. She was molested by her babysitter as a young child so this is how she dealt with it. I was molested as well as a child by a babysitter but chose to go the other route, no drugs, no sex.

I think the drugs and sex thing comes from peer pressure. I remember being a teenager and remember all too well the pressure of being "cool". I had friends from all groups and was my own person. If the child is a leader, then they will be safe from doing drugs or having sex if that's what they choose. But a follower that wants to fit in will fall right into that peer pressure and do all the wrong things.

That's where my daughter fell in. She went from a leader up until the eighth grade and turned follower. Why? she wanted to fit in and got tired of being the bullies target (a couple girls in her class for years tormented her). She decided that joining them would be to her benifit. Look where it got her today. Pregnant at 16 with no education.

I don't really pay too much attention to statistics because I personally don't find that they really do prove their point (IMHO). There are so many circumstances and reasons why a child will do the things they do that you can't possibly pin it on low income or absent parent, etc... Sometimes, it's just the kid him/herself.

[Duke]

Actually men (like myself) want a son because society thinks that the wife should carry the husband’s name. This is the weakest excuse possible for having a son but it also helps to be one of the most compelling ones for most men.

My problem was that I really didn't want a child at that time, as there was no future for mom and me. It was the very meaning of dysfunctional and I didn't believe brining a child into this environment was too health.

My daughter didn't understand what was going on for a few years but has adjusted very well and has flourished as well. Looking back on the situation, I wouldn't change it for the world but hindsight is 20 / 20.

I agree with your assessment on statistics, they are a generalization and do not apply to every case. It's always best to keep that in mind when reading statistical evidence.

[Merika]

OKAY OKAY....I was just REPEATING what the article said! HAHAHA!

Duke....in your case...I think you guys made a better decision not to marry or live together because you were having a baby together. I would think it's easier on a child if they just grow up with mom and dad in separate households than go thru a divorce later during their life. It may be a little confusing to begin with.....but it sure saves a lot of pain later.

Star....like I said in the other thread....I don't know what makes a kid go in the wrong direction either. I've been so mad at my kids I've told them they weren't 'born'...they were 'spawned'! LOL!

I like that! They were spawned! LMAO!