The Decrease of Teen Pregnancy in America

Studies show that within the last seven years there has been a dramatic drop in the number of teen pregnancies. Teen pregnancy is best known as, the act of getting pregnant between the ages of fifteen and nineteen. Teen pregnancy does not come with much of a history. In the past, (mostly in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s) it was common for girls to be married between the ages of fourteen and sixteen and give birth not long after. Some girls were having babies as young as thirteen and fourteen years old! During the times that young girls would bear children and be married so young, college and education was not an important factor. As a young girl you learned how to take care of your house, farm, laundry, crops, animals, husband, and children. The father was your main source of income. Obviously things in our time are very different. Over the years a growing importance for education and making a living on your own has become crucial to many women. It was no longer important to have children so soon, but to learn to be a strong, educated, and independent woman. Even now as time has gone by, the image of being a pregnant teenage girl has been glorified solely by media. It becomes less important to get an education so you can get a good job and be able to raise a child and give them a good life, and more important to get pregnant and get a chance to be worshiped nationally on t.v. for being pregnant and making all of your money through fame.

Studies show that between 2006 and 2011 there was an average drop of about 30% of teen pregnancies and 50% of teens involved in any kind of sexual activity (not just intercourse) in America. According to a recent study as of 2008, teen birth rates in the U.S., (which have been declining for tw...

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...r me to discover that there are about 60% more teens acting on abstinence in today’s society than ever before, was just shocking. While it may seem in our culture that sexual activity is a growing normality for teenagers, more teenagers are actually waiting. Studies show that more teenagers are willing to make a pledge to be abstinent if they are educated about it. More teens if given the option would choose a basic sex education program, not an abstinence only program or a contraception only program. Abstinence is the ONLY full proof way to avoid unwanted teenage pregnancies.

Works Cited

http://healthland.time.com/2013/05/24/whats-behind-the-drop-in-u-s-teen-birth-rates/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/opinion/birth-control-and-teenage-pregnancy.html

http://www.medicaldaily.com/us-teen-pregnancy-rates-dramatically-decline-hit-lowest-level-30-years-240900