In a recent Republican article, Latinas in WMass had an increase in teen births. According to the Mass Alliance on Teen Pregnancy, the Latina teen pregnancy rate rose to 65% in 2006, up from 48% in 1996. Dr. Sarah P. Perez-McAdoo, co-founder of the Youth Empowerment network, advocated for more direct state intervention to deal with youth reproductive health. Specifically, Dr. Perez-McAdoo called for community support and State intervention for sex education and access to contraception for sexually active teens.
Indeed, it pains me to see that the Latinas had the highest birth rates in the State. These teens will now face a difficult future and will likely become a burden to the tax payers. Of course, that we as a society have to help them move forward, but I am not sure that providing them with contraceptives will be the answer. This business of providing contraceptive has, at its roots, the flaw assumption that abstinence is impossible and that it is antiquated. This article reminded me a sex education class that I observed in a local non-profit organization. After the speakers finished talking about the different types of contraceptives and admitting that they are not 100% guarantee to avoid a pregnancy, a member of the class asked about abstinence. The speaker's response? "Abstinence does not work. It is too difficult."
Education starts at home. We do not need the government telling our children that it is okay to have sex. That is the message that free contraceptives will send to the children. If a person does not understand why he or she is having sexual relations, they should not be engaging in them.
As a tax payer, I do not like the idea of my tax money going towards condoms and any type of contraceptives so that they can have sex on my hard earned money.
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3 comments:
Abstinence is difficult when teens have the media and their peers practically pushing them to have sex. You should teach your children it is best to wait, but you MUST also teach them what to do if they do decide to have sex.
On that note...lest we forget that some of these children are getting pregnant on PURPOSE. They don't get the love and affection needed at home, so they have a baby whom they can love and will love them back. Also, they mistakenly think that the boy who got them pregnant will stick around. Lastly, it is a guaranteed income from the state if you have a child. It is sad...children born to children often suffer abuse and neglect. Lisa
Comprehensive sex education that includes both abstinence and reproductive education works best. A recent study by Elizabeth Miller, MD conducted in Boston found that 26% of girls in abusive dating relationship have their boyfriends actively trying to get them pregnant by presurring them to have sex and undermining the girl's efforts at birth control. For these boys, they may be emulating aspects of "machismo" through power and control. Teens need all the tools, education, and resources we can provide them. There is no one solution to this complex problem - parents, teens, families, community leaders, schools, educators, health care providers, and prevention specialists all have roles to play and must become involved! -- Mariposa
you can't handle the truth? you'd rather spend your tax money spent on welfare for 18 years than buy a condom.
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