Why do so many single women 'fall' pregnant in this age of sex education, free contraception & easy abortion?

Question

Just look at the Jeremy Kyle show every day ... some halfwitted girl shuffles out on the stage complaining about her boyfriend, and says she "fell pregnant" and it wasn't planned.
Now this baffles me - sex education is in all the schools, condoms and contraception are easily and freely available and, if this fails, there is abortion on demand (a contentious issue but it's still there if that's your choice).
So why do so we have one of the highest single-parent birth rates in Europe? Is it because of a lack of education and ambition in young girls, or is it the fact that being a single mother is now a career choice for many girls providing them with a home and a wage?
What's your views on this?

Answer 1

Housing, housing benefits, child benefits, income support, maternity grant, free prescriptions, free dental treatment, community care grant, no need to work.... plus a 12 month bout of being fussed over, and a real life "doll" to push round in a pram. Then, when reality hits and the novelty wears off we hear
" hey, I've got xxx amount of kids to think of "....as if it is every one else in society who is responsible? And it's "welcome to the Jeremy Kyle show" time !
Should bring in compulsory neutering for those not mature enough to be real parents.

Answer 2

I agree that some people take advantage of the fact that the government provides generously for young single parents and i agree whole hearterly that they is no excuse for unplanned pregnancies ( In my single days i was fairly promiscuious and always took precautions and not once had an 'incident' where i could of been pregnant.)
I do think that there are exceptions to this and sometimes mistakes happen (especially in the case where contraception has not worked etc.)
Jeremy Kyle uses extreame cases, it has to to keep ppl watching,
I agree that there are other options available and it is a shame that those who do not morally believe in abortion did not have such equally strong feelings about sleeping with someone without using contraception.
Women do not realise how lucky they are to have the rights they have in this day and age. Women died in the process of fighting for these rights to give women a choice in these situations. There are no excuses except for that of contraception not working correctly.

The only thing i can say is that single mothers often make fabulous mothers and they shouldnt be judged just on there marital status. After all the important thing is the welfare of their children.
Sorry if this is a conflicting message but is your question an attack on single parents if so - if they a doing their best for there children let them be.
Or if it is a case that you dont understand the amount of unplanned pregnancies in this country - in which case i completely agree!

Answer 3

Steve M is right - "fall pregnant" is a dull expression. I was a teenage unmarried mother, unwanted and starved of attention. I started having sex at 15, and found it was one thing I could do really well. It got me the approval and undivided attention of a male, something I craved, having never known my father (he died when I was a baby and soon after that my Ma put my sister and me into Care)

I had received a good sex education, but thought I could handle my fertility by using the rhythm method (this is 1959 and even married women had difficulty obtaining birth control) Also, I didn't really relate all the stuff I had been told with the intense joy I derived from sex. Something you have not considered is that for people with little money, sex is a great way to pass the time.

The rhythm method worked for 3 years, but eventually I became pregnant. There was no abortion in those days, my daughter is now 44, a senior nurse in a busy A&E Department and the mother of my three beautiful grand daughters.

I've now been married for over 30 years, have a degree, and a successful business. I have many faults but nobody has ever called me halfwitted. That may be because I never watch the Jeremy Kyle show, of course.

I have tried to answer your question honestly from my own experience. I think many young women want someone of their own, someone who will love them. And after last weeks UNESCO report on how little attention we pay our children, this makes sense, if you think about it. We all want love, and young women are no different.

Answer 4

There are many different reasons as to why some young girls fall pregnant. Unfortunately some of them are naive enough to believe a guy when he says he can't father children or whatever lame excuse they use and sometimes in the heat of the moment things happen. We have to remember that it takes two to tango so the men are just as much at fault as the girls. Unfortunately some children are brought up and made to feel like they aren't worth anything and so their answer is to have a baby so that they can give it the love that they feel they never received. Some of them are also mis-guided enough to think that this will get them a nice house and a comfortable lifestyle, something that in reality doesn't happen. I don't think you should generalise all single mothers as half witted as i was a single mother but have a sound education and a job with prospects and didn't choose to be left when my son was 3 months old. I can agree with some of what you're saying however.

Answer 5

Alcohol? Peer pressure?
The statistics that they have been an increase in abortions post-Christmas came out.

In a sexualised society where often the impression is that, unless you are in a relationship or sleeping around, you are not attractive. As an 18 year old girl, after finding out I am single, many people often go "oh, how come?" or "why haven't you got a boyfriend?". Sex has become a criteria to hit to prove you are *cool*, attractive and loveable. More sexual activity will lead to more pregnancies.

Last year whilst in a club, the DJ voiced: "Are there any virgins in the house? If you are, come to this side and we'll sort you out! Hahaha", this, the media and general attitudes have often made me feel like I should be ashamed of my virginity, that it is a problem. Which is isn't, it is my choice.

Also, should the fathers not take more responsibility? If they were very much aware of the responsibilities which they would have to take up, they may think twice about their actions. However, there are just too many who don't care about the fact that they have fathered a child, it isn't their problem. Yes, some girls may be very naive, but surely the manipulative nature of some males should not be swept under the carpet?

You can chuck out as much education and resources as you want, but until attitudes are changed, the problems will remain.

Answer 6

sex education is NOT the causes of more sex , use of contraception or abortions. It is necessary because society's values have changed and therefore knowing about these things so you can make an informed choice is necessary for everyone's health. The more kids and adults know about how sex works, how a person gets pregnant, and how to prevent pregnancy, the better off society is because the fewer unwanted children will be born. there are lots of abortions in repressed countries as well but they are not reported and too often the girl dies or is horribly scarred for life.

Answer 7

You're clearly talking about the UK as you mention the Jeremy Kyle show. The answer is REALLY simple. These children do know about contraception, they have sex education, and they're aware of abortions. But why would you care about any of this when having a child is the quickest way of furnishing yourself with a 3 bedroom house and an allowance?
Is it any wonder we have a youth culture that borders on psycopathic in terms of its disregard for respect, family and even human life? If you are born into this world where you were never really wanted, and are never really loved, what kind of model does this provide for you when you want to know how you shold be treating other people?
In other countries, if you fall pregnant, you're on your own - no welfare state to support you, no house, no money. So, guess what? YOU USE A CONDOM.
The sooner this government starts really clamping down on people abusing the welfare system (which is supposed to be a safety net), and leaves the support of these babies down to the teenager's family, you will see the levels of teenage pregnancy go down.

Answer 8

I can't believe some of the answers here from ignorant twats who don't have a clue about single mothers. Not all US single mothers choose to be like this but unfortunately our better half didn't have the balls to stay in a relationship because they couldn't hack it so hence alot of us are now single mothers. I can assure you if you think that life is hunky dory being on your own and bringing up kids your mistaken. If they gave us the money that people think we're getting it would be wonderful but try living on the social for a month and see if you come out the other end sane. Just shows you what type of person you are watching Jeremy Kyle.

Answer 9

I was married and had two children unplanned! If your having sex,whether taking precautions or not it just happens believe it or not. As for Teenagers getting pregnant,a lot of it is to do with low self esteem.It sounds like the classic cliche but you will find that sometimes because there is not positive male role model around the girl will fall for the first male that shows an interest in her. One thing leads to another and then you end up with a baby. Despite all the information available to young people today about contraception,a lot of people still believe you cannot get pregnant the first time you have sex. Ive heard it hundreds of times.

But the answerer fails to mention those girls from solid two parent backgrounds who still get 'caught'. I know a preachers daughter who fell pregnant.She just thought it couldn't happen to her.

and to those answerer's who say just to get council house,you obviously haven't seen some of the damp,cockroach,drug and urine infested estates where the majority of these girls are eventually housed. Some palace!!!

Answer 10

The Jeremy Kyle Show is not an accurate reflection of society. They specifically look for people who have f*cked up relationships like that to make their show "exciting", so I don't think this issue is exaggerated by the media without looking at it in depth. There are more people on invalidity benefits and unemployment benefits than there are on child benefits.

I think it's there's many reasons. Firstly, culture - example: Britain has the worst teen pregnancy rate in Europe, and the worst binge-drinking rate - coincidence?

Secondly, the Welfare system does appear to favour single parents (if you believe the media), but it hasn't always been that way and single parents have been around for years - my mother was one because my parents got divorced in the mid 1970s. Back then it was a social taboo to be a single parent, maybe now there appear to be more single parents because society doesn't see it as taboo anymore, and therefore more people are choosing to have children, but on their own.

Maybe it's psychological. Many girls/women have babies because there's something missing in their lives and having a child gives them a sense of purpose, love etc. Sad but true.

As for education, you don't need to be a genius to know how to avoid pregnancy. People just need to have the balls to look after their sexual health, and stop making pathetic excuses when it comes to the crunch. I can proudly say I've NEVER had unprotected sex in my life - unprotected meaning the guys have always worn condoms. I'm 33, and there's not many people who can say the same. Wake up people and look after yourselves. Don't leave the responsibility to someone else, and don't take refusal of using contraception for an answer. It's not worth it.

Answer 11

Because abortion doesn't prevent pregnancy, some idiots think condoms are a form of birth control which they aren't they're a barrier against S.T.D's and sex education is woefully inadequate (they're teaching kids that condoms are birth control for a start!).Then you have teenage parents all grown up now failing to educate their kids (coz they haven't got a clue).Myths about preventing pregnancy (a report in the paper the other day said some adults thought you couldn't get pregnant if you had a wee after sex??etc),people believing in the rhythm method etc,and then the odd bloke thrown into the mix that insists he's infertile (it does happen apparently).....sex ed. needs modernising and teaching correctly and parents need to start pulling their socks up and actually communicating with their kids. (Parents of a sensible 16 yr old).