Why do some girls from poor families become teen moms?

[Anonymous]

When I was in high school, many of my classmates were getting pregnant, it seems, just left and right. These girls were like 17-19 years old. My high school was 70% low-income students, which most of these girls were. They were dating drug dealers, cheaters, and low-lives and getting pregnant by those guys. My question is, if you know you're poor, why have a baby and create yet another burden in your life, with you now having to quit school or work 2 jobs or even both to support your baby?

[laurieluvsit]

Many young girls from lower income families are sad and depressed. Good rational decisions are harder to make for many under those circumstances.

A book could be written about the psychology involved in what you have described.

I don't think you understand so much because you sound like a very well bred and intelligent girl thus this kind of thinking does not make sense to you and I agree.

What am I going to do mom?

[Still-alive]

"I remember spending an entire month learning about puberty and sex education in 6th AND 7th grades. Lack of education isn't a likely explanation."

yeah thats great and all but data just doesn't back you up. YOU may have gotten a good sex education and thats great but that is far from the norm so far across our country
https://www.statista.com/chart/18825/state-laws-sex-ed-in-the-us/

[loveslongnails]

You really can't figure this one out?

[Smashingdoozy]

Lack of education and access to birth control.

[Asker]

There are several CVS and Walmart in our city that sells condoms and birth control pills. Going to school with these girls, I remember spending an entire month learning about puberty and sex education in 6th AND 7th grades. Lack of education isn't a likely explanation.

[Smashingdoozy]

Those things cost money. Money which they don't have. Access to birth control is more than it just being available near you.

[Asker]

They're always on facebook, posting about smoking weed, drinking liquor (underage, mind you). If they have weed and liquor money, they have money for condoms.

[Asker]

I've also seen these girls working at Walmart, Chick-fil-a, and McDonalds. They're making money through fast food jobs, and can afford birth control, so I don't know what's the problem here.

[Smashingdoozy]

Weed and liquor can easily just be given to you by adults. There's also a stigma around asking for things such as condoms.

You don't know their life. All they money they earn could be going towards their families bills.

Would also like to add doing 2 years of basic sex education is NOT comprehensive and is absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. Our system is broken. Could they be more responsible for their actions absolutely! But there is also a systemic issue at hand..

[Smashingdoozy]

2 months**

[Asker]

I think "systematic" is just a way to deflect responsibility from individuals, by saying, "Oh it's the system's fault, and not these girls' fault." I don't buy it.

[Smashingdoozy]

Then you're stupid 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Anonymous]

ask leah messer

[Anonymous]

Money.