Teenage Pregnancy Week 18 Sociology of Human Reproduction

Recap Considered the social construction of motherhood and the family Considered the concept of ‘good motherhood’ Looked at the issue of ARTS

Outline Understanding teenage pregnancy Consider if it is a problem Explore the impact of stigma

Outline Understanding teenage pregnancy Consider if it is a problem Explore the impact of stigma

How many “teenage” mothers? What does the term teenage mother mean to you? How old do you think they usually are? »Under 14 »14 »15 »16 »17 »18 »19

Birth Statistics In 2007, children born to teenage mothers accounted for 6% of all live births. (44,805 out of a total of 690,013). Under 1424 births (0.05% of all teenage births) births (0.4% of all teenage births) births (2% of all teenage births) 163,381 births (7.5% of all teenage births) 178,188 births (18.3% of all teenage births) 1813,206 births (29.5% of all teenage births) 1918,891 births (42% of all teenage births) (Office for National Statistics Birth Statistics. London, ONS: p. 10)

Teenage mothers That teenage mothers under 16 are a minority of the group. The majority of “teenage” mothers are actually 18 or 19.

Government concerns? Successive governments have condemned teenage pregnancy claiming that they are: –Irresponsible –Aided by benefits – A Cause of anti-social behaviour (poor parenting) Teenage Pregnancy Strategy developed in 1999 to: –Halve the number of teenage pregnancies –Get 60% of teenage mothers into education, employment or training.

Why a social problem? Campion (1995) outlines eight assumptions that lie behind society’s disapproval of teenage motherhood: 1.Teenagers are only children so cannot take care of children themselves. 2.Babies should be planned. 3.Teenagers should not be having sex 4.Teenage mothers are likely to be single so they are depriving the child of a father.

Why a social problem? 5. Teenage mothers are unable to be economically self reliant so they are inflicting poverty on their children and becoming a burden to the state. 6. Teenage mothers are less competent at parenting than older mothers; if they waited until they were over 19 they would make better mothers. 7. Having a baby while in your teens spells long-term disaster for the child and for the mother. 8. Teenage mothers are all the same.

What do you think of these assumptions? Do you recognise them?

Becoming a teenage mother Young women are most likely to become a teenage mother if: –Live in a deprived areas –limited labour market opportunities –low educational attainment. So poorer outcomes of teenage mothers can be cause because they are they are poor rather than because they are parents

Becoming a teenage mother Mixture of planned and unplanned pregnancies Young women report feelings of strength and empowerment Can be more motivated to succeed in education and/or employment

Assumptions of others? British Social Attitude Survey 2000: 81 % agreed “People in Britain are far too tolerant of teenage pregnancies”. 56% agreed “One of the main causes of teenage pregnancy is the lack of morals in young people”. 71% agreed, “Teenage girls who want to get on in life don’t usually become teenage mothers”. 55% agreed, “All too often, Britain’s welfare system rewards teenage mothers”.

What impact do you think the negative attitude towards teenage pregnancy will have on younger mothers?

Stigma Studies have shown that teenage mothers regularly experience stigma –Negative comments from general public, media and service providers The stigma is related to the stereotype of being irresponsible and being unable to parent properly

Stigma Stigma can deter younger mothers from service providers –Believe they will be treated badly –Want to avoid ‘pointed figures’ –Concerns that they will lose their children Consequently stigma can increase the chances of negative outcomes

Summary Looked at the age of ‘teenage mothers’ Considered why teenage motherhood is seen as a social problem Considered the impact of stigma