Are there more teenage pregnancies today than in the 70's? Sex education is much more indepth and explicit

Question

today yet there seem to be more teenage pregnancies than ever. Does sex education work, or does it actually just encourage immature children to experiment, sometimes with disastrous results?
I'm not asking for religious based answers. These poor kids are under so much pressure - through my daughter I've been counselling her friends - they're 13, having sex to keep their boyfriends interest. They're not in love, they just want a "boyfriend".

I've thought long and hard and knew only of 4 girls who got pregnant throughout my school life, in the late seventies. Gossip soon travelled. There was no contraception unless through a doctor, then. Certainly only one or two of my friends were having sex with their boyfriends.
BTW no 13 year old should be terrified out of their minds at the thought of being pregnant.

Houtexknight: I'm sorry - I don't understand what you're saying. Your world isn't my world, thank God. Nor of anyone else I know.

Also - it's got nothing to do with Christianity - I'm one of the few Christians I know! This is why I wanted wider answers which would help girls withstand the pressure.

Isn't it true though, that the Netherlands is quite a Protestant country and the children are taught to say "no". I've heard that the attitude of the Dutch is that sex is definitely encouraged. Also, isn't it true that it is only in the USA that the pregnancy numbers are dropping and that this is due, to some extent, to the abstinence campaigns?
II am not offering opinions, but this does worry me and I'd like to hear more viewpoints.

Answer 1

I think the sleeping with someone to keep them is a sign of our times - staying with the in crowd, wanting to be accepted by their peers etc, the other reason is some teenagers see it as an easy way out of their home, for example, single, teenage mothers tend to get all the help they need, housing, benefits etc I think they need to understand that a baby/child is not a bargaining tool. You should only have children when you are mature enough and can afford to bring the child up yourself in a loving family.

Answer 2

Of Course It Doesn't! Its All The Cute Baby Adverts On T.V, All The Celebs Making Out Having A Baby Is Easy. Some Teenagers Have The Burning Desire To Become Mothers And Fathers, And Then When They Do Become Parents They Blame Lack Of Sex Education Or There Not Being Enough 'Free' Contraception Out There Because They Just Do Not Want To Admit To Everyone They Got Pregnant On Purpose, They Would Be Shamed Upon If They Did. Sex Education Cannot Stop The Most Powerful Instinct In Life, The Maternal Instinct, Which Is What Most Teenage Girls Have. And It Was Common In The Fifties, My Nan Got Pregnant At 17 And So Did Her Friends! But It Was More Accepted In Those Days Because You Were Expected To Get Married Young Ect.... =] X

Answer 3

I have the same impression about teenage pregnancies. It clearly means that sexual education is not efficient, the pertinent messages are not received, mainly that whenever a young person starts to be sexually active, the use of condom is imperative.
Religious attitudes are certainly part of the problem. Given all the hype around sexuality nowadays, it's kind of dumb or hypocritical to preach abstinence towards those youngsters. Society must accept the fact that an early exposure to sexual material (not specifically pornography, even feminine magazines participate to the hype) is accelerating the willingness of teenagers to try it. So instead of moralist abstinence BS, I believe it's preferable to put a stress on safe sex and accurate information on contraception methods.
Parents role is paramount. Too many of them think like "My little girl would never do that, because I educated her in the strictest christian principles". That's blindness. When most of the schoolmates have done it, your kid will feel abnormal not to do the same. So you can try as you can to dissuade her, if she decides not to apply your recommendations, you won't be there to prevent the thing. It's definitely better to give the full information on how to avoid STD's and pregnancy.

Answer 4

It's down to the parents to teach their children self respect. But as for the teenage pregnancy thing, there were a lot more in the 50's and 60's, we just didn't get to know about them because parents used to send their daughters away to give birth and have the baby adopted... ( check the gov adoption figures ) or they would insist on shot gun weddings, ( these are the ones where people accept it cos they are a family ) and stood by their responsibilities.

It's all wrong if you ask me. Parents should educate their children therefore promiscuity is less of a problem. But moral conduct is paramount.

Answer 5

Its not detailed enough ie does not cover EVERYTHING...


Hence all the kids comming here to ask can I get pregnant doing this or that.


Or we did this can we be pregnant?


In the Netherland ie Holland.


They have very extensive sex ed covering everything like Bjs/oral, relationships, all in graphic detail. They even have a low age of concent but most actually wait willinlgy well after it.


So that shows by evidence ... detailed and explicit sex ed does work but only if it includes evertything...


But heres the biggie... they dont wait till the kids are in their teens but start much earlier before homones kick in then kids dont see it as a giggle and the lessons are constant thoughout schooling.


Plus they have a more open attiude to sex, expect mid to late teenagers to be sexaully active and prepare them for it so the kids talk about sex with parents and no hang ups...

Mr Lunasky should go and look that up if he is reading this and get his facts straight.

Abstienace has never worked in the whole of history as people cant do it.

They he and other may realise why graphic sex ed and talking in detail about it, and acknowledging teens aint kids and teaching them what they need to know.


Results in far lower teen pregnancy and std rates, and less taxpayers money spent on benefits and houses


Also careful or Mr L may stat stalking your posts and accusing you of being a danger to kids for thinking about such things and discussing shock horror sex ed,

Answer 6

You've just answered your own question. Education has nothing to do with it. Hitler was an educated man, as was Lenin. Immorality isn't related to ones educational level.

Why are you concerned that 13 year old girls are having sex?
What could possibly be wrong with that as long as they use protection? It IS wrong you say? That's right! It's wrong because it's a moral issue. Schools can't teach morality and self-respect. Until we begin to understand that nothing will change.

Answer 7

I have read that there are less today, sex education and contraception works. The church is against abortions, and contraception. The bizarre thing about it is, the proven method for reducing abortions is contraception. Make sure she is aware that condoms are always to be used, I don't condone sex for 13 year olds, I think they are way to young to be in a sexual relationship, but if they are going to do it, and you can't stop them, then do what you can to educate them. Also educate them on the consequences of a sexual relationship, emotional scaring, as well as physical problems that can occur. A well educated child may choose for themselves to be more responsible.

Answer 8

for one the record teenage pregnancies are the 60, And less teenage pregnancies from the people in there 30s since most of them love to live by them self and with out children. There is a big stories that are following up why people in the 30s are single and never married, and no children. So your question doesn't hold any facts.
But females are more active at age 13, and most girls of that age goes to parties where they have stripped for money, and sex for money, blow jobs for money. These are private parties at the house where the mother and father are busy with work. Plus there boyfriends are the pimps.
But most females of today have sex partners that are there girlfriends. and bi-sexual girls are having there own sleep over parties and bring dildos that there mothers have bought them and these girls are sharing dildo and other sex toys. lol And most mother and fathers don't know a thing since these girl may as you if they can go over there girlfriend house while she is asking her mother to stay at anothe girls house. And they get together. lol
To prove this, more females out of high shcool get a apartment and in one of the rooms they have a computer set up to make money on the internet to make money playing with there toy etc. or they strip and strip club for old men, your they sell them self as exscorts. And most of the time they date other females because they are there equal. When they date a guy that makes 50.000.00 a year they laught at them since they make 750.000.00 a year. So the guy are not there equal so they find there equal that are other females like them.
Sex education, is not there to stop sex, but to inform them of safe healthy sex. About wearing a rubber, etc to not catch aids. It was never to stop sex, but make female understand why they bleed and etc. To help kid under stand there body.
so nothing is working, pressure alot of people have pressure that works. lol bills got to be payed. lol

Answer 9

Yea I agree with you there are more Teenagers pregnant today that there was in the 70's. I think who ever get pregnant when they are Teenagers are very silly and they have only just started in life and have wasted it already

Answer 10

yes this is all true, these days girls under 18 are getting boyfriends and are ahving sex just because they need to keep in with everyone else. pregnancy under 18 are lot more often now than in the seventees. sex education does not work all the immature people just laugh at the images and words.