| The Politics of Pregnancy: Adolescent Sexuality and Public Policy Revised Edition Contributor(s): Lawson, Annette (Editor), Rhode, Deborah (Editor), Rhode, Deborah L. (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0300065485 ISBN-13: 9780300065480 Publisher: Yale University Press OUR PRICE: $45.54 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: September 1995 Annotation: Teenage pregnancy is widely viewed as a significant social problem. In this path-breaking book, prominent American and British researchers in law, psychology, sociology, medicine, philosophy, and history argue that the problem is not so much teenagers who want sex too soon, but a society that offers too little help too late-too little birth-control information, too few job opportunities, and too little reason for many low-income teenagers to stay in school and delay childbearing. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Women's Studies - Health & Fitness | Pregnancy & Childbirth |
| Dewey: 306.708 |
| Physical Information: 1.04" H x 5.85" W x 8.95" (1.14 lbs) 360 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Teenage pregnancy is widely viewed as a significant social problem. This path-breaking book argues that much of the problem stems from simplistic or inaccurate perceptions of what the problem is. Is it pregnancy in the teen years? Adolescent childbirth? Childbirth to teenagers outside marriage? Adolescent sexual activity? Commentators in this volume believe that the problem is not so much teenagers who want sex too soon, but a society that offers too little too late--too little birth-control information, too few job opportunities, and too little reason for many low-income teenagers to stay in school and delay childbearing. Although most individuals believe that childbirth outside of marriage for women under eighteen is a cause of poverty, these essays suggest that poverty is also a partial cause of early childbirth. The authors of this collection are prominent American and British researchers from varied backgrounds including law, psychology, sociology, medicine, philosophy, and history. In spite of other differences, they generally agree that more teenagers are unlikely to just say no to early sex or childbirth unless they have more opportunities to say yes to something else. To alter the social conditions that simultaneously promote and punish early childbearing, the authors argue that we need a better range of health, welfare, educational, and vocational strategies. As these researchers conclude, we cannot alter adolescents' choices without also redirecting adult priorities. |