Reality Check

One of the biggest obstacles for teen moms is completing high school and pursuing an education beyond the twelfth grade. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, two-thirds of teen moms do not receive a high school diploma and 98.5 percent are without a college degree by the time they are 30 years old.

Financial stability is almost always an issue for young mothers—up to 80 percent end up on welfare.

When adolescents are forced to grow up quickly in order to care for their child, they miss out on an important part of their youth. While their friends are out at a school dance or party, they are required to stay at home with their baby. This suppression can cause resentment towards their child and may even contribute to emotional and psychological stress.

Whether you realize it or not, teen pregnancy affects everyone to a certain extent. Each year nearly seven million dollars is spent on social services, such as welfare and support programs provided by the government. These programs are aimed towards caring for teen mothers and their children.

It would seem that with the constant coverage of teen pregnancy through media outlets that the teenage population would be more aware of the hardships involved with pregnancy. However, teenage pregnancy is on the rise for the first time in 10 years.

The seemingly innocent spontaneous hook-ups and make outs on popular TV series may have a bigger impact on the lives of young girls than previously thought. The media has desensitized the public, so sex is not as big of a deal as it was in the past. In a recent study conducted by RAND Corporation, teens who have been exposed to sexual behavior through the media are twice as likely to have sex than those who were not. In fact, by the age of 15, one out of four girls has engaged in sex at least once. At an age when rebellion is dreadfully anticipated, it is impossible to expect all teens that have sex to act responsibly and use protection. Whether it’s pure ignorance or the result of being too caught up in the moment to care, 82 percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned.

by Co-Features Editor Lindsay Croon