Sixteen and Pregnant … Roadblocks Ahead

“My dad told me having this baby was my punishment for having sex,” a student in my biology class once told me. I was startled for a moment but finally said, “Please don’t ever think of your baby as a punishment.” I was angry that her father would tell her such a thing. Learning yourContinue reading “Sixteen and Pregnant … Roadblocks Ahead”

Teen Girls and Contraception

According to the American Society for Positive Care of Children, the chances of a teen girl becoming pregnant is 90 percent within a year of being sexually active, if she’s not using birth control. The Guttmacher Institute in 2021 estimated that figure at 85 percent for all US couples who don’t use birth control. TheContinue reading “Teen Girls and Contraception”

Poverty and Pregnant Teens

I’ll be honest. The last week has been hard. I had some projects scheduled for this week, but I haven’t been able to focus. I’m so saddened by the election results I could cry … and I have. One of the reasons I dread the upcoming administration is because I fear for those who areContinue reading “Poverty and Pregnant Teens”

We All Do Better…When Women Do Better

Unfortunately, this truth is often rejected in cultures dominated by men, cultures which make up most of the world. The evidence is there, however. Denying it won’t make it untrue. The only logical conclusion is that for those men to whom power and control are the higher values, it doesn’t really matter if we allContinue reading “We All Do Better…When Women Do Better”

Dropping Out Pregnant

In my recent memoir manuscript, I claim that teen pregnancy is a primary reason girls drop out of high school. It’s something I just “know” but I can’t recall where I heard it. In the process of revising the book for an academic audience, I spent hours online this week to find a source. AsContinue reading “Dropping Out Pregnant”