Teen pregnancy is an issue that has been around for decades. There are movies, shows, magazines, you name it, all with the topic of young parenthood. “Teen pregnancy rates have declined… but it is worth remembering that teenage pregnancy rates in America are still at least twice as high as other industrialized countries” (Horton, 2006 p. 21). Teen pregnancy is an issue because it makes it harder for the teen and the child. Teenagers are not fully developed so their purpose is not to raise children. If they do not have the support they need, a child, can cause detrimental problems. So what can be done about this issue? One of the things that is important for teenage parents to be successful is support. If the teen parents are given the opportunity …show more content…
It is not always taken into consideration how the father is feeling and how he is handling the situation mentally. “The future father can often feel alone, as if he doesn’t belong, increasing the risk of him not taking responsibility and staying involved” (Kirven, 2014). That is why it is significant for the teenage father to have support as well and have the same opportunities to become educated along with the teenage mother. “Young mothers receive support from a variety of sources including families, schools, clinics, peers, and partners. Men tend to receive less social support or tangible support in their role as fathers” (Florsheim et al., 2012). Teen fathers are often stereotyped as dead beat dads, and it has been proven that a child prospers efficiently if they have their father in their life. “Tales of absent fathers and the impact of their absences on children are told all too often in therapy” (Sieber, 2008). It is easier for a young future father to succumb to the pressures and stress and deny paternity and responsibility causing extra turmoil on the mother. If the father receives the same support the mother does and is included in the process then he is more likely to stay involved in the child’s life. “It is important that practitioners introduce participatory action steps that connect them with the young fathers. Practitioners should strive to include young …show more content…
In one study they conducted a 10 week counseling program for 105 pregnant adolescents and their parents. They measured co-parenting skills and parental function during the second trimester, 12 weeks after birth, and 18 months after birth. The results showed that the young fathers that completed the program showed more positive parenting than fathers in the control group. (Florisheim et al., 2012)
In another study a Reality Therapy practitioner met with young soon to be fathers and noted the session. The results of the client centered session showed that the fathers showed that they could invasion their future better as an individual and as a parent. (Kiren, 2014). When researching the topic in the future it is recommended to be aware of biases. Some of the articles had to void some of the research because of biased views. “A source of bias common among programs located in resource-rich areas is the difficulty of isolating a true “none treatment” control group” (Akinbami et al.,
The role of the father, a male figure in a child’s life is a very crucial role that has been diminishing over the years. An absent father can be defined in two ways; the father is physically not present, or the father is physically present, but emotionally present. To an adolescent, a father is an idolized figure, someone they look up to (Feud, 1921), thus when such a figure is an absent one, it can and will negatively affect a child’s development. Many of the problems we face in society today, such as crime and delinquency, poor academic achievement, divorce, drug use, early pregnancy and sexual activity can be attributed to fathers being absent during adolescent development (Popenoe, 1996; Whitehead, 1993). The percentage of adolescents growing up fatherless has risen from 17% to 36% in just three decades between 1960 and 1990 (Popenoe, 1996). Dr. Popenoe estimates this number will increase to approximately 50% by the turn of the century (Popenoe, 1996). The US Census Bureau reported out of population of 24 million children, 1 out 3 live in a home without a father (US Census Bureau, 2009).
Sigmund Freud nailed it when he said “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” There are numerous Consequences regarding the issue of fatherlessness in America today, many of which have lasting impacts. Poverty is one major issue that can result from a fatherless home; a recent study showed that children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor. In addition as of 2011, 12 percent of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 44 percent of children in mother-only families. That means that children
Mothers and Fathers in childbearing families play an important role to their children’s lives. Mothers are to nurture, give guidance and discipline by showing love and compassion to both husband and child while fathers are known to give the same to their children, but in a more physical hands on direction compared to verbal interactions that mothers give. “Studies of families with fathers actively involved in both childcare and household responsibilities, reported preschoolers who showed increased cognitive competence, increased capacity for empathy, increased self-control, and a decrease in gender-stereotyped beliefs” (Weiss, Louis, Ph.D., “Fathers Role in Early Child Development” p. 2).A healthy marriage relationship between the mother and father brings a healthy social and psychological development to the child’s life. Having a healthy relationship reduces unhealthy behavior that would be caused by stress, emotional stability, and overall physical health. This gives a longer life expectancy to the family. “In fact, research suggests that the best
Wilcox, W. B. (2013, December 16). Children Are Better Off With a Father than Without One –
Rowen, Wilsherl Dennise, Mary Shaw-Perry and Robin Rager. “Essential Components of a Mentoring Program for Pregnant and Parenting Teens.” American Journal of Health Studies 20.4 (2005): 225-232. Print.
Teen pregnancy is a big deal. We have seen our numbers of teen’s pregnant drop since 1991 but it is still a high number. Our numbers of teen pregnancy at times have been greater in number than other countries. We see teen pregnancy amongst people in all races, black, white, and Hispanic. Our babies are having babies. Teens are often not careful and have unprotected sex. They think they are mature enough to have sexual relations but in the end our mature enough to care for the consequences of having sex. “Low levels of parental education and income sharply increase the likelihood that a young women will become sexually active and have an unplanned child” (Macionis, 2015). That statement of research is very powerful, but not as powerful as this one, “Compared to young women who lives with both biological parents, those who live with a mother and a stepfather or in some other family arrangements have triple the odds of having a child by age nineteen” (Macionis, 2015). There are ways to prevent teen pregnancy from educating our children about ways of prevention, statistics/research, and simply just being involved with our children.
Protector, Provider, and a model on how to be a man; these are all of the roles that a father has in a child’s life. However, some fathers are not present in their children’s lives. It is clear that the issue of father absence has become an epidemic, according to the Census Bureau, the percentage of children living only with their mothers have increased from 8% to 24.2%. It has become so pervasive that the media thought it was necessary to make the, “Take Time to be a Dad Today” PSAs and billboards. After passing by
There are many different attributes to teenage pregnancy. The majority of teenagers do not realize the consequences of their actions. Taking that into consideration the influences of the teens are highly important during the pre teen stage all the way to adult hood. During the time of this impressionable stage many of the teens are having sex not because of love, but because it is a trend. The media is glamorizing teen pregnancy and leading to a cultural shift.
Historical, research on primary parental child-care and involvement has been focused on the female partner in relationships (lamb, et al. 2014). Moreover, the majority of research that does exist, studying father involvement revolves around the negative effects of distance fathers (lamb, et al. 2014). Notwithstanding, in recent years there have been strides to better understand how families with a male figure as the primary caretaker differ from women, there is still much to room to grow.
... couple, married or unmarried, who have a child together can be detrimental to the child, mentally, emotionally, educationally, and also in his future endeavors. Therefore, it is important to have a father figure in the life of these children. Without a father figure, the child’s future is at risk. Children who have fathers who are involved in their lives, whether the children are biological, adopted, or step children, have a better chance of excelling socially, emotionally, and academically. However, if there is no way of obtaining a father figure for a child, mentoring programs are definitely great places for a child to learn about relationships, principles and morals, discipline, and trust. This program fixes the problem of an absent father or father figure. With this program, the emotional damage that an absent father causes to a child can be repaired and saved.
About half of the children in America will spend at least a portion of their childhood in a single parent family, and most of the time it is their father that is not present. The prevalent absence of fathers has been called a social disaster and according to a 1999 Gallup poll, public opinion agrees. The poll showed that 72% of Americans agreed that fatherlessness is this country’s most significant social problem. According to a study done in 2003, there are 5...
... reflected with the likelihood the father is involved and spend time with their children and to have children who are psychologically and emotionally healthier (Parke). Also the mother and father is more responsive, affectionate, and confident with their infants; better know how in dealing with defiant toddlers; and better advising, connecting, and providing emotional support to their teenagers (Parke). Studies have shown children with involved, caring fathers have better educational outcomes. For instance, a study shows that fathers who are involved, nurturing, and playful with their children tend to have children with higher IQs, better linguistic and cognitive capacities (Parke). Lastly, the children through their adulthood are more patient and can handle the stresses and frustrations associated with schooling better than children with less involved fathers (Parke).
Preventing teenage pregnancy has been a goal for many years now. Statistics have tried to keep up with the change in the teenage generation. Many people have different opinions on the subject of teen pregnancy, because to some people teens seem to be getting pregnant expeditiously in these times. People fail to realize that having a baby is a privilege to many people and not a problem. Many people take having a baby as a lightly. Getting pregnant and having a kid has many pros/cons. Having a child can be very hard on some people and cause them to break. When babies are brought into this world there are a lot of things to worry about. The greatest problem associated with teen pregnancy is financial instability. Most teens do not have the salary to support a child. In the prevention of teen pregnancy there are many things that are helpful. Abstinence is a for sure way of not getting pregnant. There are also other helpful ways to help prevent teen pregnancy, such as sex education and birth control. All of these things are essential in the helping to prevent teenage pregnancy.
Today in America we need true fathers' to serve as a role model to fathers that are absent in their child's life. If you are not ready for the responsibilities,then ...
Before we venture into the controversial aspects of teen pregnancy, I think that it is imortant to answer a vital question brought up by one of our classmates. This question addresses how teen pregnancy has evolved and how times have changed to bring upon such a serious issue. To begin answering this question we must take a look back in time to the roles of women and men in our society. Teen pregnancy is not just a rare virus that has recently sprung up and will someday dissapear due to some type of cure. Adolescent pregnancy has plagued our country for over three centuries, but it is only more recently that we have noticed its growth and severe impact on many aspects of society.