I think it's more that in America teenage pregnancy is seen as getting in the way of the American dream. Kids believe that they have a right to finish school, maybe college, and go off to be rich and famous and successful (and a really scary percentage take the rich and famous part seriously) with a kid, that's a lot less likely.
For parents, everything has a strong foundation in the idea that your kids will have a better life than you will, that whatever you gave up they will have by birthright, and seeing those plans fall hurts. And without any major external accomplishments, teenage parents get swept under the rug. We don't hear about it unless it's in a shock value sense (Oh no! Bristol Palin! etc.) because there's less to say unless you know someone directly. At the end of everything, Teenage pregnancy is looked down upon as basically the end of whatever your plans were, and no one really wants to acknowledge that
So while the statistics are sizable (hello abstinence only education!) awareness is low Teenage pregnancy is looked down upon as basically the end of whatever your plans were.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-08-11 04:05 am (UTC)For parents, everything has a strong foundation in the idea that your kids will have a better life than you will, that whatever you gave up they will have by birthright, and seeing those plans fall hurts. And without any major external accomplishments, teenage parents get swept under the rug. We don't hear about it unless it's in a shock value sense (Oh no! Bristol Palin! etc.) because there's less to say unless you know someone directly. At the end of everything, Teenage pregnancy is looked down upon as basically the end of whatever your plans were, and no one really wants to acknowledge that
So while the statistics are sizable (hello abstinence only education!) awareness is low Teenage pregnancy is looked down upon as basically the end of whatever your plans were.