become teen mothers tend to be among the Black and Hispanic decent. Others tend to be

sexually assaulted or abused as children. Whether realized or not, teen pregnancy effects

everyone. It takes a toll on the taxpayers, the teens families, and the child. Teen pregnancy can

change the course of a person's life, as seen with Novalee Nation, in the book Where the Heart

Teens become pregnant for seemingly many reasons. "85% of White teens and 70% of

black teens said they had not wanted to have a baby at the time of conception"(Luker, Pg. 153).

Statistics indicate, that most teen pregnancies are accidental. Other teens seem to think it will

solve their problems, "While privileged people may see a detriment in a teenager becoming a

mother, these girls see it as a realistic improvement in their lives"(Thompson, Pg. 45)

According to figures published by the Children's Defense Fund, 50 percent of all

teenagers between the ages of fifteen and nineteen have had intercourse, as have four out of five

twenty-year- olds. It seems clear that a lot of teens-50 percent at present- can't or won't

subscribe to the "just say no" philosophy. T

Although is should be noted that not all of the babies delivered by teen mothers are fathered by

was unaware of the many methods of birth control. Thus, she became pregnant.

purchased a box of contraceptive sponges or a container of contraceptive foam"(Guernsey, pg.

Unfortunately, it seems that those who will not use abstinence as their method of birth

A teens mom's future, like her past, will also be bleak. Physically, the pregnancy and

Although Novalee did not go on welfare, her pregnancy took its toll on the entire town.

have babies will make it to college. Not surprisingly, the majority of teenage mothers will

in other states one or both parents' consent is needed before medical care can be provided to

teen boys, experts state that the vast majority of these fathers are under twenty-one.

"35 percent of all teen pregnancies end in abortion" (Lerman, Pg. 127). A survey of

continue to be a problem. Until someone steps up to the plate and proposes a plan to stop this

Early in 1995 President Bill Clinton proposed a plan that would limit the amount of time

Some common words found in the essay are:
Defense Fund, Exploited Abortion, Nation Heart, Novalee Nation, Claude Olsen, House Representatives, Willy Jack, Bill Clinton, United Stated, Heart Teens, birth control, teen pregnancy, teenage fathers, teenage pregnancy, teenage girl, teen moms, percent teen, novalee nation, teen mothers, teen pregnancies, methods birth control, life seen novalee, seen novalee nation, teenage boys fathers, teenage pregnancy york,
Approximate Word count = 2545
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)