I am so sorry this post is late! In class this week we have talked about abortion and adoption and though I think adoption is an important subject, I chose to make my blog entry about abortion and the restrictions we have on it in the United States.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, twenty-two percent of all pregnancies in the United States will end in abortion. Though it is not the most popular decision for women who have an unplanned pregnancy, a significant amount of women each year are choosing abortion (in 2008, 1.21 million legal abortions were performed in the US). Abortion is also the focus of a lot of political and moral debates and because people feel so strongly for and against the issue of abortion, legislation on the procedure is usually controversial.
In an article that I read on azcentral.com titled, Ban on race-based abortions OK'd, it explained that an Arizona Rep. named Steve Montenegro had pushed for a bill to be passed in Arizona that would ban women from having abortions because they are unhappy with the race or gender of the fetus. Many are saying this idea of abortion based on race/gender can't be proved to even be happening and the state Rep. admitted to getting his information from a magazine article about the practice taking place in India and China.
In an article from foxnews.com titled, States Looking to Change Definition of Late-Term Abortion, it outlined the current laws on when a woman can have an abortion and also the soon-to-be changing laws regarding this matter. Restrictions on late-term abortion vary from state to state. In Kansas, this past Wednesday, the Senate passed a bill that will prohibit most abortions after the 21st week of a woman's pregnancy. Also, in Idaho, their Senate backed a similar proposal stating that women cannot have abortions after their 20th week of pregnancy. These bills were decided upon based on research claiming that a fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks.
There are also restrictions on who can have an abortion and who has a say over the decision. Thirty-five states currently enforce parental consent or notification laws for minors seeing abortion. In states where it is mandatory to have a parent's go-ahead, what are young girls supposed to do if they don't have parents? Or if they don't have a good enough relationship with their parents to talk to them about being pregnant and being interested in abortion?
This brings up a lot of questions that I'd like to hear your opinion on:
Who do you think should get to decide what is a "good" reason to have an abortion and what is a "bad" reason? Also, when is it okay to have an abortion and when is it not? And lastly, do you agree with the restrictions on teens seeking abortion?
Sorry AGAIN that this is so late! Have a great/safe Spring Break!
The articles I read for this post:
facts on abortion in the United States
law on late-term abortion changing
abortion based on race article
-Rachel Mitts
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Challenges of Early Motherhood
Hey ladies!
In class we have been talking about the challenges of teen pregnancy and the options you have. I have found some articles on these topics that make you think of everything that comes with early motherhood.
In the past, teenage pregnancy was not only nothing unusual but it even used to be the norm. In fact, it still is in many developing countries where women often get married at a young age and have children soon afterwards. However, in the industrialized countries of today, teenage pregnancy is mostly considered as a problem, almost a tragedy. Why is that?
The main pressure on young pregnant women is, of course, to come to a decision about the unborn child, considering the options of keeping the child, adoption and abortion. Other pressures are education and money. For one, young teenage women in industrialized countries are generally expected to get educated and find work. This becomes almost impossible when having a baby without a strong social network. Then, there often are financial pressures, since the lack of education often leads to unemployment or the dependency on low paid jobs or welfare. Does it surprise you that two-thirds of teen mothers never receive their high school diploma? Do you think it would be difficult to complete your education if you had to take care of a child?
Most of the people put a lot of thought and planning before they decide they want to have children, since raising a child is an extremely difficult task, which requires a lot of psychological, physical as well financial strength. The first and most important thing about teenage pregnancies is that teenage is a very tender age, and hence teenagers lack the physical as well as psychological maturity required for conceiving children.
Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be very difficult and scary for a teenager, and deciding what to do will be even harder. No matter what her political persuasion, it always comes down to a very intimate, personal decision that no teenager makes without some degree of emotional trauma. All of the options: abortion, or raising the baby, or allowing another individual to adopt the baby carries emotional pain and personal sacrifice.
What do you think would be the best way to get all of these challenges out so teens can think about these before making decisions? And do you think percents will go down if teens knew what the consequences were? Do you think teen pregnancy is a big problem in your community?
Molly Ewigman
http://www.livestrong.com/article/12457-teen-pregnancy/#ixzz1GiYK4DsJ
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-01-26-1Ateenpregnancy26_ST_N.htmTuesday, March 8, 2011
Teen Pregnancy & the Choice of Education
Hey Ladies,
This week in class we are discussing the choices pregnant teens have to make when it comes to their present pregnancy and their future life. I thought that education was a serious choice that pregnant teens have to make very quickly, and should be explored a little more. The article I read expanded on the choices and alternatives to schooling that these girls have to make.
Although when a girl becomes pregnant, her pregnancy often becomes her priority, and education may become a secondary priority, it is still a choice that must be thought about and taken extremely seriously. Pregnancy can hault everything you are doing in your life or it can take the opposit effect, and speed everything up. The choice to continue education throughout a pregnancy as well as after the pregnancy takes a lot of thought, and the consequences will most likely affect that person's future.
This options and alternatives to education can be determined by the school that one is currently enrolled in. Private schools may have different rules for girls who get pregnant, and may require that the girl leave the school if she gets pregnant. This will probably cause the teen to have to enroll in a public school, where pregnant teens are welcome. Those teens who are enrolled in public schools when they become pregnant have to make the choice of whether they will stay in school, drop out, transfer to a school specifically for pregnant teens, become home schooled, or take classes on-line, which is something that is now available for high school students. All of these choices and alternatives to education are decisions that the pregnant teen must make. The family as well as the childs father may have an impact on the decision she chooses to make regarding her education. What ever the choice may be, her future will be impacted. The pregnant teen has to act fast, and this is another reason why the decision may be so hard. If there is no time to fully think a problem through and you make a decision without considering all of the options and possible consequences, there is bound to be some type of problem or issue as the result.
If you were a pregnant teen (go back to when you were a teen and base it on how YOUR life was then) facing the decision of education while pregnant and after pregnancy, what would you possibly decide to do? Why would you make this decision and how will it possibly effect your future as well as your childs future?
-Seqwinya
This week in class we are discussing the choices pregnant teens have to make when it comes to their present pregnancy and their future life. I thought that education was a serious choice that pregnant teens have to make very quickly, and should be explored a little more. The article I read expanded on the choices and alternatives to schooling that these girls have to make.
Although when a girl becomes pregnant, her pregnancy often becomes her priority, and education may become a secondary priority, it is still a choice that must be thought about and taken extremely seriously. Pregnancy can hault everything you are doing in your life or it can take the opposit effect, and speed everything up. The choice to continue education throughout a pregnancy as well as after the pregnancy takes a lot of thought, and the consequences will most likely affect that person's future.
This options and alternatives to education can be determined by the school that one is currently enrolled in. Private schools may have different rules for girls who get pregnant, and may require that the girl leave the school if she gets pregnant. This will probably cause the teen to have to enroll in a public school, where pregnant teens are welcome. Those teens who are enrolled in public schools when they become pregnant have to make the choice of whether they will stay in school, drop out, transfer to a school specifically for pregnant teens, become home schooled, or take classes on-line, which is something that is now available for high school students. All of these choices and alternatives to education are decisions that the pregnant teen must make. The family as well as the childs father may have an impact on the decision she chooses to make regarding her education. What ever the choice may be, her future will be impacted. The pregnant teen has to act fast, and this is another reason why the decision may be so hard. If there is no time to fully think a problem through and you make a decision without considering all of the options and possible consequences, there is bound to be some type of problem or issue as the result.
If you were a pregnant teen (go back to when you were a teen and base it on how YOUR life was then) facing the decision of education while pregnant and after pregnancy, what would you possibly decide to do? Why would you make this decision and how will it possibly effect your future as well as your childs future?
-Seqwinya
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Funding Cut for Teen Violence Outreach Programs
Hey Ladies! So I had been planning all week to write about the issues of teen mothers and their families, but the presentation this morning on teen violence really struck me as an interesting topic for discussion. I found an two articles from California newspapers talking about the recent issues in teen dating outreach programs and what the state is doing to help.
Both articles discuss the fact that the state of California has recently cut funding for its outreach programs as a part of statewide budget cuts going on. This cut in funding has severely affected the ability of these programs to reach high schools and the student population in general, where they do most of their presentations and outreach work. CORA, the Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse, is the country's only organization specifically designed to help all people dealing with relationship abuse. Untill the recent budget cuts, CORA had an impressive teen outreach program within it, complete with chat rooms and live forums for teens who have been abused or suspect that they are in danger to meet safely and discuss their issues. In essence, this program no longer exists due to the budget cuts, which cut CORA's funding by $400,000. In fact, the entire program has been greatly affected by this cut, which dramatically reduced their ability to reach out to schools and the community as well. All or most prevention-based assistance has been put on hold, with any curent funding going directly to emergency services and housing.
Perhaps to combat the lack of funding lately, more effort has been made on a statewide level to show support for victims of abuse and to get the word out about teen abuse in general. Selectwomen Susan Bonilla and Fiona Ma of California have declared February as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in an attempt to help get the message out. Selectwoman Ma is quoted as saying "State and Federal funding for youth violence prevention has dried up, however we must not turn a blind eye to unhealthy adolescent behavior. Now more than ever our state needs new innovative programs and role models to promote healthy relationships that don't rely on state funding."
I was really shocked by the lack of concern the state of California was showing for the outreach programs in general and this one for teens specifically. Do you find it surprising that state funding for this program is so hard to find? Do you think that the Selectwomens' attempts at a non-state funded program will be successful? Why or why not? Below are my sources. :)
www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_17467802?nclick_check=1
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/incontracosta/detail?entry_id=84129
~Megan Moore~
Both articles discuss the fact that the state of California has recently cut funding for its outreach programs as a part of statewide budget cuts going on. This cut in funding has severely affected the ability of these programs to reach high schools and the student population in general, where they do most of their presentations and outreach work. CORA, the Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse, is the country's only organization specifically designed to help all people dealing with relationship abuse. Untill the recent budget cuts, CORA had an impressive teen outreach program within it, complete with chat rooms and live forums for teens who have been abused or suspect that they are in danger to meet safely and discuss their issues. In essence, this program no longer exists due to the budget cuts, which cut CORA's funding by $400,000. In fact, the entire program has been greatly affected by this cut, which dramatically reduced their ability to reach out to schools and the community as well. All or most prevention-based assistance has been put on hold, with any curent funding going directly to emergency services and housing.
Perhaps to combat the lack of funding lately, more effort has been made on a statewide level to show support for victims of abuse and to get the word out about teen abuse in general. Selectwomen Susan Bonilla and Fiona Ma of California have declared February as "Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month" in an attempt to help get the message out. Selectwoman Ma is quoted as saying "State and Federal funding for youth violence prevention has dried up, however we must not turn a blind eye to unhealthy adolescent behavior. Now more than ever our state needs new innovative programs and role models to promote healthy relationships that don't rely on state funding."
I was really shocked by the lack of concern the state of California was showing for the outreach programs in general and this one for teens specifically. Do you find it surprising that state funding for this program is so hard to find? Do you think that the Selectwomens' attempts at a non-state funded program will be successful? Why or why not? Below are my sources. :)
www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_17467802?nclick_check=1
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/incontracosta/detail?entry_id=84129
~Megan Moore~
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