 Why is it an issue?  Historical Perspective  Economical Issue  Background factors  Effects on Mothers and Their Children  The Influence of the Media

We will use some of the steps we have learned in order to assess the problem of Teen Pregnancy.  Define the problem * Define the problem  Gather evidence * Gather evidence  Identify causes * Identify causes  Evaluate a policy Evaluate a policy  Develop solutions * Develop solutions  Select best solution Select best solution 

 Teen pregnancy: a crisis over the past 50 years › society has shifted the moral standards that direct sexual behavior. › increasing rates of sexual activity among teenagers, and decreasing rates of marriage.

 1950’s: less than a third of first births to teen mothers were conceived out of wedlock.

 1980’s: two-thirds of all Caucasian teen mothers were unmarried.  97% of African American teen mothers were single at the time of conception in the 1980’s.

 Approximately 750,000 to 850,000 teenage women, ages 15 through 19, become pregnant in the US every year.  77% of children born to teen parents will receive a high school diploma.  Children of teen mothers more likely to experience adolescent childbearing, homelessness, juvenile delinquency, and incarceration.

 Federal government spends approximately $15 billion to help families that began with a teenage birth yearly.  80% of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare.

 Inherited disadvantage  Family headed by a single parent

 increased psychological problems  lower graduation rates  inconsistent employment  reliance on social assistance and welfare  higher poverty rates  Increased marital instability  more frequent health problems

 Teens are bombarded with messages that SEX AND PREGNANCY HAVE NO RISKS, AND NO CONSEQUENCES.

 Written By: Margaret Bechard  Published by Simon Pulse, 2003  Focuses on the life of a teenage father › Central Question: Should he give Max up for adoption?

 Written by Ruth Pennebaker  Published by Henry Holt and Co., 2001  Main character Anne is forced to live in a group home for pregnant teens › Ultimately gives her child up for adoption

 Written by: Anna Fienberg  Published By: Laurel Leaf, 2002  Main character lives in a dysfunctional family › Chooses abortion

 When asked if Young Adult novels that portrayed Teen Pregnancy and/or parenting made it look glamorous many said no. › One surveyed student said that after reading one of these books she “Never wanted to have kids”

 Premiered September 8, 2007 by Fox Searchlight Pictures  16 year old high school student gives her baby boy up for adoption to a single adoptive mother.

 17 Again (2009): Comedy film from New Line Cinema.  Fifteen and Pregnant (1998): Based on a true story, by Lifetime Television movies.  Mom at Sixteen (2005): Lifetime Television movies.  Saved! (2004): Teen comedy film with religious satire.  Where the Heart Is (2000): by 20 th Century Fox.

 Premiered on ABC Family on July 1,  15 year old gets pregnant from her first sexual encounter. Took place at a school event. She has help from multiple people; her parents, sister, the baby’s father, her fiancée, and friends.

 ( ): CW spin-off of Beverly Hills,  16 and Pregnant (2009): MTV Reality Series  Reba ( ): one of the CW ’s top rated sitcoms.  One Tree Hill ( ): Aired on the WB, now called the CW.

 Celebrities within a small limited society are an easier “real” text for people to read  Examples › local school celebrities › local sports players › local dance, or music performers  Celebrities within a large society are a more complicated text, are inaccessible  Examples › Nationally known › Singers › Actors/actresses

 Media has many social, economic purposes to keep celebrities as they are: A real example →→→ “Jamie Lynn Spears”

 A social reflection of how celebrity culture might affect real life.  Several girls decided to get pregnant together, influenced by celebrities

Worksheet5: "Developing public policy solutions"(HTML) Spend a few moments now using the template below to generate some ideas on how the problem of Teen Pregnancy can be resolved in our communities.