Teen pregnancy remains one of the most serious social issues. Teenage pregnancy is caused by different factors, but it is more important to reconsider the consequences of teenage pregnancy and their impact on the lives of young mothers and their children. Statistics and literature prove that teenage pregnancy increases the risks of welfare dependency and poverty, puts the child’s wellbeing under risk, and substantially weakens the development of workforce in the country.
As a result, teenage pregnancy creates a combination of factors which decrease adolescent’s chances to find a stable social position in the society, and increase the likelihood of poverty and welfare dependency. Sociological studies prove that teen pregnancy is likely to cause poverty and welfare dependency for young mothers and their babies (Sawhill, 2000). Experts unanimously agree that poverty accounts for numerous burdens young mothers must shoulder, but poverty makes the whole situation only worse.
Compared to other young women with similar socio-economic status, adolescent mothers are more likely to end up being dependent on welfare; “almost one-half of all teen mothers and over three-quarters of unmarried teen mothers begin receiving welfare within five years of the birth of their first child” (Sawhill, 2000). 52 percent of young women on welfare have had their first children at early age (Sawhill, 2000). Teenage pregnancy has already changed the structure of poverty in the U. S.
Poverty and welfare are associated with family structure, and teenage pregnancy mostly results in the formation of single-parent families. Single-parent families constitute the larger portion of those who are poor or / and welfare dependent (Batog, 2006). “In the 1960s and 1970s, most of the growth of single-parent families was caused by increases in divorce, but currently, unmarried mothers tend to be younger and more disadvantaged than their divorced counterparts; as a result, they and their children are even more likely to be poor” (Sawhill, 2000).
However, poverty is not the only social consequence of teenage pregnancy; the child’s wellbeing is put under risk if his (her) mother has not yet reached adulthood. Teenage pregnancy creates serious risks for the future well-being of the newborn baby. Children of teenage mothers are more likely to be born with low birthweight (Sawhill, 2000). That means that newborn babies of adolescent mothers are more vulnerable to infant death and chronic respiratory risks.
Even if these children succeed to survive, they tend to display serious health complications later in life: these include hyperactivity, dyslexia, mental illnesses, deafness, and even cerebral palsy. “Children of teen mothers do worse in school than those born to older parents. They are 50 percent more likely to repeat a grade” (Batog, 2006). Young mothers’ school underachievement also impacts life opportunities of their children. Teenage pregnancy heavily impacts young mothers’ grades; it raises dropout rates.
Researchers in sociology have already proved the close connection between teen pregnancy and educational attainment of young mothers and their children: “these studies have confirmed that teenage pregnancy adversely affects level of educational attainment” (Sawhill, 2000). Pregnant adolescents drop out because they are unable to combine their educational functions with parent roles. Teenage mothers who find enough courage and strength to stay at school are 73% likely to graduate, compared to 77% of those who postpone pregnancy (Batog, 2006). School achievement is closely linked teen pregnancy.
Educational achievement impacts the wellbeing of young mothers and children. The child’s wellbeing is determined by teen mother’s ability to find a good job and to support the child. Teen pregnancy and school underachievement decrease teen mothers’ chances to develop necessary skills and to find a good job. Ultimately, teenage pregnancy impacts the quality of workforce in the United States. Teenage pregnancy weakens the development of workforce in the country. Teenage pregnancy tends to decrease the quality of young workers in the general structure of the U. S. labor force.
“Today’s economy demands a sophisticated and educated workforce” (Batog, 2006), but teenage pregnancy and early parenthood interrupt smooth and continuous process of adolescent education. Young parents have fewer chances to prepare themselves for a good position. Young mothers frequently find themselves unable to become integrated into the U. S. labor market. “When children have children, their opportunities are diminished right from the start, and the future is often one of poverty” (Batog, 2006). Education, career, and business require time and effort, but adolescent mothers are not prepared to the real life difficulties.
Business is interested in developing effective programs for the prevention of teenage pregnancy; business is interested in educated, skilled, and reliable workers. Teenage pregnancy is a serious obstacle on the girls’ way to the social highs, and it can also prevent the child from becoming educated, professional, and prepared for a good job. It is never too late for pregnancy, but it can be too early for a girl to have a child. Teenage pregnancy generates a whole complex of adverse social and financial factors that decrease the quality of the adolescent’s life.
Poverty, welfare dependency, well-being risks, and problems with work create unfavorable social environment in which the girl must exist, unless she is able to eliminate social prejudices and to provide her child with full life opportunities. Conclusion Teenage pregnancy remains one of the most difficult and the most challenging social problems. Young girls who become pregnant early in life are extremely vulnerable to numerous social risks, including welfare dependency and poverty. Teen mothers put the well-being of their children under risk, and weaken the development of workforce in the country.
Young mothers lack sufficient skills to become integrated into labor market; they are likely to end up on welfare. Teenage pregnancy heavily impacts health and social position of the newborn child. Ultimately, adolescent mothers are unable to provide their newborn children with full life opportunities.
References
Batog, J. (2006). Teen birth rate hurts economy. The Business Journal of Milwaukee, June 12, p. 23. Sawhill, I. V. (2000). Welfare reform and reducing teen pregnancy. Public Interest, Winter, pp. 12-22.