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Post by concreteangel on Aug 11, 2008 18:38:09 GMT -5
A lot has been done over the years in an attempt to reduce the number of girls 15-19 getting pregnant, but it hasn't been very effective. Not only is teenage pregnancy on the rise, but preteen pregnancy is as well. Girls as young as 11 and 12 are getting pregnant and having babies all the time, and it's a serious health risk for them and their babies. But nothing (that I have found) is being done about it. Half these girls don't even know what sex is until they wind up pregnant. But is that the parent's fault, or the school's? Health classes teach high schoolers about the consequences of sex, but middle schoolers aren't taught nearly as much. Parents are generally the ones to have "the talk" with their children, but many parents nowadays are busy with their jobs, trying to keep money coming in. I feel like this is a topic that needs to be discussed. Teen pregnancy is often talked about, but preteen pregnancy flies under the radar. I found this on Yahoo Answers and it's just sad.... answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080326171825AABUdFVDiscuss. EDIT: Another article...... media.www.themichiganjournal.com/media/storage/paper255/news/2007/10/23/Perspectives/Birth.Control.At.School.Leads.To.PreTeen.Promiscuity-3050532.shtml
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Post by mike1921 on Aug 11, 2008 19:32:37 GMT -5
Or the boys? Don't forget being Catholic extremists and thinking that if the kids don't know what sex is they won't have it. In my school it was made obvious (at age 12) that Aids=deadly STD and STD=sex. The teacher explained what constitutes sex. and put up a video of a lady giving birth. So yea, I can't imagine any half-inteligent girl doesn't realize that's not fun.
I really don't think there's much to discuss, I'd think we'd all agree pre-teen pregnancy is not good. Maybe if you focused the topic a little more, maybe on whether pre-teens should be tought more about condoms.
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Post by CountessRachel on Aug 12, 2008 13:48:19 GMT -5
That's an interesting topic.
As far as high schoolers go, I'm a big advocate of promoting info on condoms, birth control and other safe sex practices because a good number of young people simply don't believe in the words "don't do it or else." But middle schoolers? Funny thing, we had sex ed classes when I was in 6th grade (which, for our school system, is elementary school). So if this is becoming a big issue, I would suggest middle schools start having more informative sex ed curriculum in their health classes.
But even moreso, I would suggest seminars and workshops in middle school that build young girls' self-esteem and self-image since that, to me, is the first missing piece that leads to teen pregnancy. The unrealistic standards of beauty of this society combined with young, hormonally induced teenagers going through puberty shouldn't be ignored. Not to mention, middle school is where "cliques" really start to form along with cruel bullying. (Especially where girls bully and gossip about one another).
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Piro
Korra Krew
Chipmunk Queen
Nom nom nom
Posts: 14,261
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Post by Piro on Aug 12, 2008 15:04:46 GMT -5
One of the things, I've read, that has added to teen (and perhaps preteen) pregnancy is how much people seem to like it. In Juno, and now in that little ABC series or whatever, they seem to be raising teen sex as something good. Alot of girls don't mid getting pregnant now because shows like that make it seem like everyone will be accepting of their situation; and alot of people are. I don't think it's a bad thing to accept them still when they're pregnant, but to encourage them to have sex like that because they want people to comfort them and such and love them and their baby is just stupid.
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Post by CountessRachel on Aug 12, 2008 20:31:18 GMT -5
Funny thing about Juno was that everyone at school avoided her like the plague or stared and talked about her (even though she was a bit of an oddball before her pregnancy). I don't know who encourages having babies to earn acceptance, but from what I've seen and read, you get the exact opposite. You become another statistic--one of those "girls who got pregnant while still in school." And from what I've heard, you learn who your real friends are.
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Post by Consonant*** on Aug 17, 2008 12:55:54 GMT -5
In none of my experiences with pregnancies at my school (Although, admittedly, they were older) did pregnancy make the girl popular. Hell, they were pretty much labeled as whores (Which, I guess, could be what they wanted, but honestly). I find the notion that it makes you popular incredibly naive, although you'll definitely be... noticed...
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Post by goten0040 on Aug 17, 2008 14:41:19 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I live in the state with the most teen pregnancies - so pretty much all the pregnancies that happened in my high school before I graduated were supported with love and kindness. I know a girl who's been pregnant FOUR TIMES - miscarriage, birth, abortion, miscarriage. It bothered me. I understand making a mistake - my big sister was a rape baby to my teenage mother. But these girls are just outright promiscuous sometimes. I think the blame can be spread all over. The parents, the boys, the media (oy, I sound like a mom), and EVEN the girls! I mean, they got into the situation in the first place.
There was actually a fight at my school between two girls over "who's baby bump is bigger". I wanted to die. It's ridiculous - absolutely ridiculous. I don't think it's right that these girls are throwing their lives away so they can sleep around. I can't particularly do anything about it right now except rise above it. I'm going to college and getting success before I even think of children. *sigh*
Problem is - stories like Juno and Secret Life of the American Teenager are actually making pregnancy look somewhat okay. I mean, Juno was pretty realistic - people shunned her and such - and I haven't seen the other show, but people like Jamie Lynn Spears are playing it up to be absolutely wonderful! I mean, are you serious? Magazines are going "OMG JAMIE LYNN SPEARS BABEH IS SO KEWT YAYZ LETS ALL HAVE ONE!" It's wrong. Course... if your sister's a trainwreck, I guess people forget that you're only like fourteen.
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Post by Consonant*** on Aug 17, 2008 14:52:41 GMT -5
Found interesting link, says that preteen pregancy is on the decline since the 70's. www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/09/12/USTPstats.pdfI also read a report that says there have been an increased rate of Falcon Punches in that same time period.
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Post by GROOONK'D on Aug 17, 2008 15:11:26 GMT -5
Well I'll see about that
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Post by mike1921 on Aug 17, 2008 18:27:09 GMT -5
I think it's, in order the girls the boys parents school religion (when the religion says "no condoms" and "no sex until marriage" I personally think that makes people more likely to have un-safe sex. ) media
With the first 2 being switchable depending on situation. But still, the word "even" being added makes it sound like the girl has little to be blamed about.
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Post by goten0040 on Aug 17, 2008 19:30:35 GMT -5
I believe religion has a lot to do with it too. I mean, the more strict you are with your kids, the more wild they'll have the chance of being when they get out of the house. I'm not saying let your kids do everything they want, but there is a line where strictness just messes with their heads.
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Post by Gran Gran on Aug 17, 2008 21:07:26 GMT -5
Scary thought.
Kids 11 and 13 of age should be playing with dolls and not 'Doctor' A friend of mine, nurse on the maternity ward of the local hospital suspected foul play (AKA molestation) in many preteen pregnancy cases she came across.
It is the parent's job to teach their kids the facts of life. I can't remember 'THE TALK', I had an older sister who very early on knew all there was to know about the birds and bees...I just kinda picked it up along the way.
We also knew early on how not to get pregnant. Over here it seems the notion, if the kids don't know they won't use it or just say no are helpful. But heaven help there are too many grown ups who do not let their spouse see them undressed. With a distorted body image, how can that come to a good end! being naked is ZOMG, sex is forbidden, and if we learned nothing out of prohibition, that putting things off limits make them oh the more attractive - like drinking.
In the 9 years I was in middle/high school, I only knew of one girl who got herself in trouble.
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Post by goten0040 on Aug 17, 2008 21:21:35 GMT -5
Exactly. Kids can learn these things. It's not a bad thing to teach. I learned when I was much younger - I think I was about 9 or 10 when I started to ask questions and get answers. Parents are just so caught up in being protective, they end up causing them more harm instead. D:
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Post by mike1921 on Aug 17, 2008 22:08:25 GMT -5
me, 7 I believe religion has a lot to do with it too. I mean, the more strict you are with your kids, the more wild they'll have the chance of being when they get out of the house. I'm not saying let your kids do everything they want, but there is a line where strictness just messes with their heads. True. But with the exception of media, I think all of those are biggies so I did already think that. You mean sex or pregnancy? but either way, wow.
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Post by Grimmjow of the Funk on Aug 17, 2008 23:59:22 GMT -5
i know several but y'all can't say philoprogenitiveness cause it is there fault they got into it.
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