Why does everyone think teenage pregnancy is a new thing?

I think its just more open..in the sense that more teenagers are keeping there baby instead of killing it. Before family's were very secretive and just got abortions...but now that teenagers are keeping there baby and being more responsible there getting looked down upon..is this right?Why does everyone think teenage pregnancy is a new thing?
I totally agree with you.





Why should we get looked down on because we're taking responsibility for our actions now?? (I'm 19.)





There are teenagers that take better care of their children than 30+ year old adults.Why does everyone think teenage pregnancy is a new thing?
Actually, that's not entirely true. There may have been teenage pregnancies but there weren't nearly as many and there were far fewer abortions before Roe V. Wade (even secret illegal abortions). After abortions became legal there was a huge jump in the number being performed. Since then there has been a gradual decline. You're right though that most teen pregnancies in the past were hidden or at least not openly talked about. People would send their daughter's ';away'; until the baby was born or they'd do a lot of shotgun weddings. Teenage pregnancy isn't new but it is definately a problem for society. It's a problem economically mostly.
It isn't a new thing, but thanks to the media and many more things thats the way life is now. Are you telling me you have never made a mistake? Teenagers are young and silly, No clue how their actions are going to effect others... resulting in teenage pregnancy. If a teenage mother does not feel capable of raising a child properly then I don't see why there is something wrong with having an abortion (If the mother does not want to adopt the child out), She is clearly doing the baby a favour. And I don't personally look down upon teenage mothers who have been responsible and are raising their children, But if i feel the child is being neglected, or anything else then of course it will be looked down upon.
What are you talking about? My grandmother had two kids by the time she was 16. My great-grandma was married at 14. And this wasn't that long ago. At one point teenage marriages/pregnancies were the norm. You were a spinster practically if you were in your twenties and childless.





Before it was because they were unmarried, not because they were pregnant that there was a stigma. And abortions weren't kept track of until after Roe Vs Wade. So there is no way to tell if more women in the past had abortions compared to women today, regardless of age.





Now teenagers who have children are looked down upon because all of them have so many more options then that. Everyone knows how a baby is made, whereas before the sexual revolution not many women did. They're taking their education and opportunities for granted.
I have to say that the media has glorified pregnancy. There are a slew of unwed young mothers in Hollywood who say ';I live for my baby.'; Teenagers see this and they think ';I want that too.';





Some teens also think that making a new family will get rid of all of the problems in their family. They think that if they get pregnant, their boyfriend is obligated to be there (which isn't the case).





But NINA M hit it on the nose. It's so easy for teens to get pregnant and then go on welfare and qualify for a free check every month, daycare and WIC. That's not taking responsibility. That's getting caught up in the hype and having innocent taxpayers pay for them and their baby's expenses.





BEING RESPONSIBLE IS NOT HAVING SEX UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO ACTUALLY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. BEING RESPONSIBLE IS TAKING A FEW DOLLARS OUT OF YOUR ALLOWANCE TO BUY CONDOMS!
I hate it when people look down upon teenage mothers (including myself) Maybe some have babies for money and stupid reasons but so do older women. Some teenage mothers look after their child(ren) better than their own mother looked after them or any 30yr old mother takes care of theirs. My daughter is well looked after, well dressed and fed, always uses her manners and has never been sick and she is almost 3. Here is a point I would like to make also to prove that older women are just so unfair. My daughter was born with a abnormality called Polydactyly (extra fingers or toes) in her case she had a normal thumb with 2 tips on her right hand. She had this operated on at 14 months of age and had to have a full cast on for 6 weeks. The number of 30-60 year old women coming up to me saying things like ';it only takes a second for disaster when u take your eyes of them'; and ';did she fall down the stairs'; was absolutely ridiculous. I would calmly explain that no she did not fall down the stairs she actually had an abnormality that was corrected but after 4 or so weeks of those comments putting her cast down to me being a bad teenage mother I wasn't so calm in answering as I think was understandable. I myself am with the father have been for 7yrs all up and have never received any type of welfare payments and also take better care of my girl than my mother took care of me.
I don't think they do think It is a new thing, If you think that years ago many people got married when they were still teenagers. It isn't a new thing, but it is on the increase.





I think the difference is that years ago people got married and with their families help they were expected to support themselves, on top of that it was more likely that sex would result in unwanted pregnancies, as there was not the contraception available today, nor the education available to teenagers today.





I am obviously not talking about those teenagers that have made the decision to start a family, in steady relationships, can support themselves etc etc. but it is just more of an issue today due to the burden on society for those that rely on the state to support and the fact that education is obviously not working to prevent unwanted pregnancies.








Edit:


To the poster who wrote about where benefits come from - Where else other than taxpayers do you think they come from?
The reason the teens keep the baby in most cases is because they get money, free houses etc thrown at them. The government makes it easier for them. ';Killing it'; is harsh. In the old days society used to frown upon single mums and these women were destitute, in many circumstances it would be better for the child if it wasnt born. Some mums were sent to stay with aunts or in homes until they had the babies which were then taken away from them and given up for adoption. How are teenagers being responsible? If they were being responsible they wouldnt get pregnant in the first place. Show me a teenager parent who isnt on benefits (unless they have incredibly rich parents) and I will eat my hat. Its us hard working taxpayers who are paying for these so called responsible teens.
me and my boyfriend are both 15 and expecting triplets were both excited and we steped up too the plate and took responsibility for our actions just because we chose to have unprotected sex doesn't mean that the baby should have to suffer abortions are wrong on so many leavels of you can't take care of a babythen dont have sex.! obviously there are more teens getting knocked up right now but that's cause we dont always think what were doing we think well everyone else is doing it so what the heck let's do it.... my best friend and my brother concived a baby she's only 14 and he's 16 no way are they responsible they both party like crazy drink smoke all that kinds stuff so they decided that instead of killing the poor baby put it up for adpotion..
yes this is so right, and i'm sorry to say that i don't see why age is telling us the capabilities we have, I know some people that are 30 who can do things a 15 year old can do and vice versa. And another point, taxpayers do not pay for benefits that all these teen parents are supposedly on so that person needs to get their facts straight and I would also like to say Im pretty sure no other teen parent has gotten a house thrown at them cuz i sure as hell didn't. I like how people group teen parents as people who aren't responsible its just that we make mistakes but its okay for older people to do the same things.....
Yeah I agree. It's definitely not a new thing. People are just more open %26amp; willing to talk about it these days.





And to Nina M. You are very wrong. It's not like teenagers go around having babies to get free money %26amp; benefits. My best friend is 17, her fiance is 19 %26amp; they have a 2 year old daughter together. They have their own apartment, both have jobs, %26amp; are not on any type of program or benefits %26amp; they're doing perfectly fine on their own.






Yes i totally agree with you but it is sad that we have lots of children bringing up children, although some do a bloody good job.
I'd say so. It's also people are more nieve though when they keep the baby.





grace.