Teenage Parenting as a Major Social Problem - Case Study Example

Early-Age Single Mothers Births to teens are not a new thing but what has changed is the significant increase in births to teen single mothers (Horowitz 32). About sixty years ago, unwed pregnant women were taken to some hostels to give out their children for adoption (“Sin and the single mother…”). Giving up the baby for adoption was the only solution especially for teen mothers who came from poor families and therefore had no enough support. Agreeably, early-age single motherhood was common because of irresponsible sexual behaviors and men failing to take their responsibilities. Back then, if a young unmarried woman was found pregnant, the man responsible for pregnancy was supposed to marry her and live together even if they do not get along. Today, things have really changed as there are many teen single mothers worldwide living their own lives and supporting their children accordingly. More so, today, single motherhood is a choice as many women choose not to have a man in their lives and that of their babies. However, there still exist the factual problems with single mother households and the stereotypical problems. For a long time, men have been impregnating women and refusing to take responsibility and this is the main cause of single motherhood in various parts of the world. In the U.S, unwed teenage mothers symbolize a disturbing form of poverty that can be avoided by delaying childbearing (Harris 1). Generally, the overall statistics of sexual activity and early pregnancy, the conflicting opinions on the impacts of single motherhood on children, and financial issues among the single mothers are some of the common issues covered when conducting a research on single teen mothers. Teenage parenting is a major social problem in the united states despite the endless of efforts of reducing teenage pregnancy and childbearing (Sibanda and Mudhovozi 321). Single motherhood is an issue of human rights in that in some countries, single motherhood is associated with negative emotional and mental effects on the children. More so, single motherhood is also perceived as a dysfunctional family because most children raised by single teen mothers are more likely to be deviant and engage in illegal activities. Inadequate public assistance is the leading cause of increasing number of poor families headed by mothers (McLanahan and Sandefur 83). Many teenage mothers do not receive any aid from the government or other organizations and to most of them have to struggle to stay out of poverty. It is nearly impossible for a teenage girl with no job or an average salary to support their child on their own including the expenses of school, food, clothes, and transportation among other necessities. These issues is indeed part of the concerns of human rights since a woman should be capable of surviving and supporting her family individuals without the censure of society of lack of support from any institution. Many teenage mothers are more likely to rely on state benefits, live in poor households, drop out of school and therefore never have a stable well-paid job forcing them to live in poverty with their children. More so, most of them have lower self-esteem and lack purpose in life (Sibanda and Mudhovozi 325). In some countries, single mothers are seen as a hazard and disgrace to the society and so pregnancy out of wedlock comes with cruel consequences. Does public support of teen single mothers increase the number of women choosing to have a baby on their own? Some believe that single motherhood is so harmful and public support significantly influences women to have and raise babies without a man in their lives. There are various statistics of single motherhood and teen pregnancy including first, the U.S has the highest number of individuals who are sexually active before the age of 18. More so, sexual intercourse mostly leads to pregnancy, and that most U.S births to teenage mothers are of girls who have had less years of schooling. Agreeably, most of these statistics are relevant in the American contemporary society and they cause serious problems in the society. This is because in this country, poverty, education and unemployment are the key issues that the government deals with instead of considering also teen pregnancy and single motherhood. There are many problems associated with teen single motherhood, for instance, McLanahan and Sandefur (83) posits that teen single mothers and their children are at a greater risk of negative health and social outcomes like occasionally using prenatal care. Some of the common causes of single motherhood in the United States include teen pregnancy, father disappearance, adoption, or divorce among others (Sibanda and Mudhovozi 323). Others argue that children raised by single mothers are more exposed to teen motherhood as compared to their fellows raised by both parents. Therefore, single motherhood significantly contributes to early age single mothers. Teen pregnancy significantly contributes to increasing cases of early age single motherhood. Many teenagers engage in irresponsible sexual activities living most of them unwanted pregnancy. In most cases, pregnant teenage girls are abandoned by their boyfriends once they realize that they are pregnant. Notable, most teen single mothers confirmed that the father of their babies left them either for another girl or to run away from the responsibility of being a father. Therefore, father disappearance is also another factor as many teenage boys do not want to settle and be accountable for their actions. Most of them disappear immediately they realize their girlfriends are pregnant. Some even deny that they are not responsible for the pregnancy thereby living the girls to raise their babies on their own and be the single mothers at an early age. As a result, some teenage girls prefer to give their babies for adoption either by choice, financial problems, or may be because they consider their babies as children of shame. Adoption is seen by many girls as the only option to let their children have a good life free of social problems and to be raised by a happy family. Divorce is another cause of single motherhood but it does not affect teenagers because most teen mothers are not married. Another factor in the growth of single teen motherhood is the shift in social norms that minimized the stigma associated with non-marital childrearing. In the 1950s, pregnant unwed young women were expected to be married by the men responsible for that pregnancy but from the late 1980s, teenagers are able to engage in intimate relationships without being married legally. Many teenagers have problems maintaining a stable relationship. Some of them find it easier leaving a bad relationship and raising a child on their own than to make and maintain a long-term commitment. Arguably, child poverty, juvenile delinquency and school failure are some of the problems caused by lack of a father figure in family (Mclanahan). Many children born and raised by a single teen mother has a higher chance of experiencing school failure, poverty and other social problems as they continue to grow up. Children who have been raised by single mothers and are from disadvantaged background are at risk of dropping out of school and becoming a teen mother. More so, they have lower grade point averages and poor attendance records. The academic performance of these children is highly affected even if they manage to graduate. Child poverty is common among those children raised by a teen mother because when a teenager becomes pregnant and drops out of school, having a well-paying job is impossible and this leaves them economically disadvantage. Therefore with no financial support, the children are doomed to live in poverty and not able to access some of the necessities. However, some researchers oppose this claiming that single motherhood has no harmful effects and so it does not cause child poverty, juvenile delinquency or school failure (Duncan and Edwards 2). Early age single motherhood is a serious problem that should be dealt so as to reduce or eliminate the social problems associated with it. Single teen mothers should try to marry quickly so as enable their children live a happy life with a father figure. More so, because single motherhood has been associated with early age single mothers, it is necessary for children to grow up with their two parents so as to reduce teen motherhood and idleness in the society. In addition, teenagers should be encouraged to use contraceptives so us to avoid unwanted pregnancies that will only force them to be single mothers. Nevertheless, they need to engage in responsible sexual activities or abstain if possible. Lack of education on safe sex from parents or teachers is the main cause of teen pregnancy which in turn results to teen single motherhood (Sibanda and Mudhovozi 323). There is also need to prevent relationship breakup and encourage men to be responsible and not abandon women when they are pregnant so as to reduce cases of teen single motherhood. Men should learn to share responsibility and be part of women’s lives and their children. Conversely, women should allow men in their lives to help them raise their children and save children from the problems associated with being raised without a father. All in all, early-age single motherhood is a serious social problem that has harmful consequences on the lives of teen mothers, their children as well as the government if not dealt with accordingly. Dealing with early-age single motherhood should be the government’s first priority; otherwise, the society will continue experiencing cases of school failure and drop out, juvenile delinquency, and child poverty among other social problems. Works Cited “Sin and the single mother: The history of lone parenthood”. The Independent. 2014. Web. 15 May 2014 Duncan, Simon, and Edwards, Rosalind. Single Mothers In International Context: Mothers Or Workers? London: Routledge, 2013. Print. Harris, Kathleen M. Teen Mothers and the Revolving Welfare Door. Philadelphia: Temple Univ. Press, 1997. Print. Horowitz, Ruth. Teen Mothers: Citizens or Dependents? Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. Print. Mclanahan, Sara. The Consequences of Single Motherhood. The American Prospectus, 2001. Web. 15 May 2014 McLanahan, Sarah, and Sandefur Gary. Growing Up with a Single Parent: What Hurts, What Helps. Harvard University Press, 2009. Sibanda, Tshikani, and Mudhovozi Pilot. Becoming a Single Teenage Mother: A Vicious Cycle. Journal of Social Science, 2012, 32(3): 321-334. Read More