To think all this talk of sex education is patronising to teenage mothers

[roseability]

A lot of teenagers want to start a family and know perfectly well how to use a condom

As a society we have actually created the problem by stigmatising teenage pregnancy. It doesn't conform to socioeconomic norms of educational and economic success thus it is wrong. By making it 'wrong' teenage mothers are marginalised and often receive poor antenatal care and fewer opportunities for themselves and their family.

There were actually more teenage mothers in the 1950s than in the 1990s. Of course in the 1950s it was acceptable to have a baby under the age of 20 (as long as you were married). I am not advocating forced marriage but the fact that society accepted it meant teenage mothers got a better deal (in terms of their image anyway)

Define teenager. There is a big difference between a 13 year old who does fall pregnant accidently through poor knowledge and a 19 year old who chooses to start a family young, but doesn't expect to be judged just because she isn't fulfilling society's expectations.

We are not going to stop teenage pregnancy. There are much wider socioeconomic, psychological and political issues surrounding young motherhood than sex education.

Personally I would be more worried about STDs and the damage to young people's health, this is where sex education should be aimed at.

I am sure teenage motherhood is tough and there are issues about the welfare of young mums and their babies but to conclude my point, it is society that has caused such issues. I am also sure that there are many great young mums doing a better job than older mothers.

Evidence from studies suggests young mothers are more likely to live in rented housing or social accomodation which is damp, poor and cold

I don't call this getting handed things on a plate

On the contrary, I was brought up in nice housing, completed schooling without much fuss, went to uni, met a uni educated man who now has a well paid job and raise my son by working part time and living in a warm house. Now that is what I call being handed it on a plate!

I'm not saying I haven't worked, studied etc for what I have got and I certainly didn't have wealthy parents BUT I can hardly say I have suffered extreme hardship

faced the issue of whether to feed myself or the children. It is hard for a lot of young mums. They have been handed what on a plate precisely?

PMSL at rebelmum are you serious? So now its teenage parents fault that you get taxed alot which means you have to work harder? Was that a serious post?

FYI its not just teenage parents that recieve benefits there is a variety of different people with different reasons to be on benefits and I am sure you are not the only one contributing to there benefits since I work and pay taxes and so does a large percentage of the population.

I for one would rather benefits go to single parents teenage parents and in general people that need it than to lazy twits that can't be arsed to get a job.

I am sure alot of teenage mums do a better job of being a mum than grown up mums so to say and what do you class as a teenage mum?

As for DLA etc - there would be far more of that to go around if there were less teenagers on the dole and claiming for children that they have had when they couldn't afford to support them.

Agree with Roseability's last 3 posts.

Lumping 19yo married women or women in steady relationships in the same category with 13yos who get pregnant out of ignorance or over-early sexualisation doesn't help.

Sex education is also a blanket term that can mean all sorts of things. All evidence goes to suggest that preaching abstinence does very little to reduce pregnancies.
(I don't think Scandinavian and Dutch teenagers are particularly chaste. They are just very careful with contraceptives).

Otoh there is a very strong and well researched link between very young mothers and poverty.

If there are indeed teenagers out there who think pregnancy is going to solve all their problems, then either they know nothing about how the welfare system really works or their expectations are unbelievably low. Probably a combination of the two.

Some really good points there roseability.......... The thing is when a lot of people talk about young mums they are actually talking about young single Mums , and that is not always the case.

beat me to it cory.....

I think the last piece of your post is sadly very true. A lot of young peole from poorer backgrounds have few ambitions, and very little self esteem

Also not all teenage Mums are on benefits some of them actually do work and some are not living in complete poverty as well.

My friend was 19 when she had my GD she lived on one of the worst estates in south west London on a daily basis she had crack heads knocking on the door for change etc she was a single Mum and eventually she got moved and worked very hard 8 years on and she is due another baby lives in a beautiful flat is going to marry her baby father and is not in any kind of poverty.

Also not all teenage Mums are on benefits some of them actually do work and some are not living in complete poverty as well.

My friend was 19 when she had my GD she lived on one of the worst estates in south west London on a daily basis she had crack heads knocking on the door for change etc she was a single Mum and eventually she got moved and worked very hard 8 years on and she is due another baby lives in a beautiful flat is going to marry her baby father and is not in any kind of poverty.

Also not all teenage Mums are on benefits some of them actually do work and some are not living in complete poverty as well.

My friend was 19 when she had my GD she lived on one of the worst estates in south west London on a daily basis she had crack heads knocking on the door for change etc she was a single Mum and eventually she got moved and worked very hard 8 years on and she is due another baby lives in a beautiful flat is going to marry her baby father and is not in any kind of poverty.

Also not all teenage Mums are on benefits some of them actually do work and some are not living in complete poverty as well.

My friend was 19 when she had my GD she lived on one of the worst estates in south west London on a daily basis she had crack heads knocking on the door for change etc she was a single Mum and eventually she got moved and worked very hard 8 years on and she is due another baby lives in a beautiful flat is going to marry her baby father and is not in any kind of poverty.

There are issues that drive our 'fear' culture here

Lets blame the usual suspects for the ills in our society - teenage mums, immigrants, gypsies etc

Fear has always been a driving force behind ignorance,intolerence and judgement

pingping - absolutely agree!

The stereotypes are hurtful and unhelpful

You make it sound like it's not a problem at all.

Why are we at the top of the teenage pregnancy league table? Why is it a public concern?

who's daft idea was it to create a league table ffs

Why is it SqueakyPop?

Do people really think that if teenagers stopped having babies are taxes would be lower!

Thats the problem with society its easier to blame them then take alook at the real problem and sort it out.

I really think that to prevent accidental pregnancy in young people is to show them the facts and teach them what its all about Girls and boys need to know this

When I did sex ed they barely touched on teenage pregnancy or what is was like to be a teenage parent let alone things like STDs it does need to be updated whats being taught.

So we all agree that they are wonderfull young mums there? And most of them continue education.

Then the problem that most posters have is again about money.

So should only the rich have children? Imagine if our parents and grandparents waited until they had money and house and 2 cars before they had children. None of us would be here now.

And regarding the benefits it seems to me like ppeople here see life as one whole thing and one permanent situation.

Nothing is permanent.

Life is something that keeps changing. Or as my mum says life is broken into many chunks. Quite right. I ve been on benefits, i ve been on low paid jobs, i ve been on high paid jobs and i ve been a business owner. Different periods in your life , different things.
These girls will not be on benefits all their life, at least most of them.

I think some people are just bitter at the state of their own lives and take it out on the usual suspects.

Contraception fails too

I still dont understand why it was ok in the 1950's but not now?

Quite tiramisu. I am sure the majoprity of people who have become disabled or have had a disabled child didnt know what life had in store for them either, I didnt. Life does change. Some things are out of your control

If young girls didn't shag, they wouldn't have to worry about contraceptives failing. The best place for their contraceptives is to place it between their knees.

Because we dont live in the 1950's now pinping. Women are not expected to marry, have children and be tied to the kitchen sink. Women can now have careers and intrests ouside of the home.

Many things which were accecptable in the 1950's are no longer acceptable. It is because society evolves and becomes (hopefully) a more fairer and equal.

But not all women want to wait until their 30s to start a family. One norm does not fit all. Thank goodness!

I think as long as your mature enough in yourself and you look after your children then there shouldnt be an age issue. I don't think anyone can tell you what age you feel ready to have children as only you know in yourself whats right.
Regardless of where the money comes from if its the state or if they work the most important thing is that the children are well looked after and well brought up.

Yes teenage pregnancy is on the rise but I wouldnt class anyone that is over 18 as a teenager.

Maybe we should start stoning teenage parents and hiss at them on the street Or even better open up work houses and send all the single teenage mums there hide them from the rest of europe as they bring us so much shame Is that the kinda thing you want SqueakyPop??

So what in because in 2008 you are not forced to marry and become a house wife you shouldnt have kids until you in 30's a good career behind nice car and your own house what a joke and a stupid way to think