The Pregnancy Project The author of this book is 21 year old Gaby Rodriguez. She came up with the idea for this project because she was told repeatedly by her brothers and sisters that she would end up getting pregnant as a teen just like all of them. I believe that the purpose of this project and subsequently the book, was to show that you do not have to live your life on the basis of stereotypes. It does not and should not matter what anyone says about you, you are the master of your life and nothing anyone says about you should change what you believe about yourself, or what you want to do with your life. I love this book, and the Lifetime movie was great too. I have known too many young girls who have gotten pregnant, and it does …show more content…
The main social problem addressed in this book is stereotypes and how to address them. More specifically it was about the stereotypes about teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy has become an epidemic in the U.S., and shows like Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant aren’t helping. They tend to glamourize pregnancy and make it “fun” to be a mom. Gaby came up with the idea of this project because her brothers and sisters kept telling her that she would get pregnant and have to quit school just like they or their girlfriends did, and that there was no way around it because that was just the way it was in their family. Gaby is a straight A student with college ambitions. She is required to do a senior project and she decides that she wants to do something that is meaningful to her and that will make an impact on others. She decides after much thought that this is the perfect subject for her project. Some of the stereotypes of teen pregnancy are that the teen’s life is over, that she will never be able to finish school, that everyone in her family got pregnant as a teen and she will too, that her boyfriend will leave her and she will be alone, and many others. The whole idea behind this project was to show people that they …show more content…
This book is about labels, and fighting those labels. How can someone succeed in life if they are constantly being berated and made to feel worthless? Social interaction focuses on individual interactions between people and problems occur when we attach labels to various issues. In class we have talked a lot about labels and the impact they can have on a person. Labeling people can lower self-esteem and make a person feel worthless. This project wasn’t just about the stereotypes relating to teen pregnancy. It was also about the rumors people spread and about the statistics related to stereotypes. One of the videos Gaby showed during her presentation showed children being whispered about and left out. It also gave some possible consequences of stereotypes and rumors, such as depression, drug use, stress, violence, and even death. About 2 million adolescents attempt suicide every year, and about 700,000 die. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in persons age 15-24. There needs to be further education about what stereotyping and labeling does to children and teens and the impact it has in their lives. This book supports everything we have learned in our Minority Studies class about labels and the effect it can have on a person. When someone is told often enough that they are a worthless person, or a loser, or some other derogatory term they tend to believe it themselves, especially
I can relate this book to my life in many ways; it was easier for me to relate to this book because were both 18 year old girls who want to live life the right way. Also I don’t want to live life trying to be like everyone else, so this was really encouraging to me. A part that helped me was the part about confidence and how important that is. Its important to have confidence in your faith because say you get in a situation you can protect your faith and stand up for what you believe. Another part that I can really apply to my life was how when people were talking about her she didn’t even beg to know. Personally whenever I hear that someone was talking about me, I really want to know what they said! This helped me to learn that why fill my brain with negativity sinful gossip, because that’s not what Jesus would do.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It truly gives you a lot to think about. I'm only in high school which doesn't give me much opportunity right now of getting a good job, even though I'm going to be in need of one since I'm having a baby. This book made me see that I better have a good education to get a good job or I'm not going to be able to take care of myself and a baby.
Author Amy Schalet ultimately brings up a delicate and sensitive topic about teens having sex, comparing the different mindsets of families in the Netherlands and in America. By Schalet carrying the interviews, she found out that teens in America are a lot more secretive with their personal lives, and would not discuss it with their parents, unlike teens from the Netherlands that eventually told their parents. While some people might say that it’s a matter of common sense, some other people might argue it has to do with culture. Catholics, for example, believe in celibacy until you have decided on the person you will marry. You are taught from young age to protect your body and mind from carnal desires and focus on other things that will benefit you on the long run. Obviously, times have changed, and not many people practice this anymore. We can see an example on shows on television about teen pregnancy, while these shows aren’t necessarily telling to go ahead and have children at young age, it might have negative impact on younger girls, almost like a unintentional role model. On the other hand, writer Jamaica Kincaid, demonstrates the In The Girl we see the other side of the coin, a mother that is so demanding and is always right, no matter the outcome, she is right, and things have to be done a certain way. I think a figure like this would not benefit
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading national public health institute in the United States, illuminates to the world, “ In 2013, a total of 273,105 babies were born to women aged 15 – 19 years [in the US]” (About Teen Pregnancy). Although the statistic was taken in 2013, the relevance of it, to this day, is monumental. If an individual hears of a teen pregnancy, compared to the past, it would have little to no effect. For example, The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathanial Hawthorne in 1850, follows the life of a woman, who happens to be a mother, while she hides herself in shame, withdrawn from society because she has a child. The novel’s views juxtaposed with today’s views on teen pregnancies are substantially different.
Lola demonstrated the disparities of our school system, as she is from an impoverished neighborhood with a school that hindered the progression of her education. Lisa demonstrated how community influences individuals and impoverished communities often cause young members to perpetuate their parents socioeconomically situation. However, some influences, such as church communities, can have strong positive impacts on their lives. Both girls demonstrated the importance of guidance and advocate in one’s life. Lola through her troubles in the school system, and Lisa through receiving guidance through the church. Both girls have been greatly influenced by their parent’s socioeconomic status and restricted from their full potential, causing them to fall into only slightly better situations than their parents. They are prime examples of the cycle of issues in our society, and the reason that we need to make a
While this movie did help some with people reproducing. Research has shown that “unintended pregnancies account for almost one half of all U.S. pregnancies and more than 70% of pregnancies outside of marriage.” These pregnancies are especially common in women
When examining the article through broader lenses, sociological imagination is used to look at the piece of writing in different ways. Although teaching kids about sex and contraceptives is con...
The world’s population is rising rapidly from seven billion to the estimated nine billion in 2050 (Ellis, Overpopulation is Not the Problem). Every human being adds stress to the Earth’s resources. Numerous places like Africa and China maintain a copious amount starvation and poverty. There are days when people go without food, water, or shelter. There is even such happening in the United States. In such places, it is difficult to find contraception, or birth control, which leads to unplanned pregnancies. These situations are rooted down to overpopulation, which is when there are too many humans. However, there is a multitude of ways to reverse such negative effects. Population control is a necessary act that will benefit the world through sparing natural resources, decreasing famine, and controlling unplanned pregnancies. A worldwide effort would have to take effect in order for a successful future.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend this book to early teens who are fans of drama and comedy because they could probably relate to most of the issues discussed to a certain extent. Girls my age, especially, would enjoy this book as they could relate to the issues discussed and they have probably already experienced similar
For example, Collin Allen states, “Girls whose fathers left either before they were born or up to age 5 were seven to eight times more at risk of becoming pregnant as an adolescent than girls living with their fathers.” In other words, parents are supposed to be the teachers and the ones who protect the child. Therefore, if such presence is not there, the child will not have that person how tells her what to do or not, or what is correct or not increasing the probability of committing an erroneous action.
People that lack knowledge tend to make or end up in horrifying situations they can regret their entire life. Teens are easily tricked by their classmates or other people they know, they agree to do anything without thinking it through.Teens take very quick actions without thinking of the consequences, their family, their environment, and not even their religion.These mistakes which I happen to be familiar with, may lead into very serious problems later on.
My recommendation for this book would be that this book is just a fun read, nothing to serious. But yet it's a book were its easy to relate to were a lot of the situations that happen in the book happen in young teenage life as well. Like for example the desperation to fit in. kids will do most likely anything to be part of "the cool group" hopefully not take some sort of pill that will talk to you in your head. But other things like being pressured into talking drugs. Sneaking out of the house to go to some party and not coming back until the next day at dawn without getting caught. These days we do so much and our parents know so little.
I would recommend this book to anyone from a freshman in high school to beyond, because in order to understand fully what Mia is going through there needs to be a more mature reader. Both males and females would enjoy this book, because it is a story about a girl who just lost everything she loved and cared for and has to decide for herself with no help is she wants to stay or
The glamorization of teenage pregnancy has increased the different views on teenage pregnancies and also the way it influences young minds. In todays society the media covers stories on hollywood stars in the same way they would cover a teenage pregnancy story. "Forget leaking sex tapes, getting multiple plastic surgeries, and fist-pumping. The latest way to get on the cover of a tabloid these days? Get pregnant and have a baby when you're a teenager, and do it on TV"(McKay). The latest way to be put on tabloid like a movie star is to become pregnant as a teenager and become famous while doing it. In todays society young impressionable women are are infatuated with the media.
The authors made some great points about how poverty leads to teen pregnancy or at least it is a risk. Their points were clear and precise. Each argument that was presented had facts, data, and statistics that made them valid. The most interesting argument that the authors presented was the fact that not only was pregnancy an initial risk, repeat pregnancy was also a high risk. According to Michelle Castillo, an associate editor for CBSNews.com, this argument is a huge problem for teen girls in the United States. About one in five teenage women in the United States will get pregnant again (Castillo). When Dr. Garwood brought this argument up, I was surprised. I was surprised because these young women live in poverty, how could they afford to support another child? After reading the article, I became more intrigued by the fact that poverty, CPS history and maltreatment is a significant reason why these teenage girls are getting pregnant early. The