Blisstree » abstinence

Does Bristol Palin Inspire Teen Pregnancy?

Eliza Ferree — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:16:39 +0000

All week I’ve avoided writing about this topic but it seems to be a hot one and something others are chatting about and I thought I’d ask ya’ll what you think. Bristol Palin, the daughter of Sarah Palin (who ran in the last election) was pregnant through the whole campaign which caused tons of controversy. This month’s issue of People Magazine had Bristol Palin appearing on the front cover in her cap and gown, holding her son, Tripp. (click that link to see her)

IMG: Zuma Press

Earlier this month Bristol appeared to be a spokesperson for abstinence for the National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Day. She plans on becoming an advocate for the prevention of teen pregnancy. Bristol says that she hopes more will not do what she did and learn from her experiences. I must ask, when you see a young, pretty mom in a cap and gown while holding her baby and waving is this discouraging to our kids…our teens?

According to Bristol thought, this is the message she wants girls to get:

“Girls need to imagine and picture their life with a screaming newborn baby and then think before they have sex. Think about the consequences. If girls realized the consequences of sex, nobody would be having sex. Trust me. Nobody.”

It’s too bad the magazine didn’t shoot a picture of her in a gown with spit up on it and a crying child in her arms. Or maybe even her hair a mess and sleepy eyes. That would’ve painted a different picture for teens that were contemplating it. What’s your opinion?

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Does Bristol Palin Inspire Teen Pregnancy?

Discussion About Abstinence for Teens

Mary Emma Allen — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:06:34 +0000

“Is abstinence realistic for teens?”has been a question cropping up in discussions recently, as teens like Bristol Palin make the news.

Katy Lee, at Adventures in Parenting, has some good insights on this topic in the post, Is abstinence realistic?

Image: sxc.hu

Other related questions: “What should parents be telling their teens about abstinence? How much is it the responsibility of the parents to inform youngsters and discuss the consequences?”

What’s your opinion on abstinence and teens?

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Discussion About Abstinence for Teens

CDC Report Indicates Teen Pregnancy Rates Rising

gayla — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:23:50 +0000

A report published this month by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that teen pregnancy rates are rising. Significant increases are being reported in the teen pregnancy rate in 26 states in 2006, ending a 15 year decline in teen pregnancy statistics.

Regionally, the northeast has the lowest while the south and southwest herald the highest rates. The new data shows the greatest increases in teen pregnancy rates in Alaska, Mississippi, Montana, Hawaii, and Nevada.

A number of factors are being cited as influencing the rise including a rise in highly publicized teen pregnancies, abstinence-only programs, and a disproportionate number of pregnancies among minority teenagers.

If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, I think teens should be offered every possible education alternative when it comes to sex education. I think offering abstinence only programs is like offering a child vitamin C and not teaching them any other preventative measures like washing hands or covering their mouths to avoid the spread colds and flues.

Sometimes parents have to take that extra uncomfortable step and actually TALK to their kids in order for them to actually understand real risks and prevention.

Just sayin’

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CDC Report Indicates Teen Pregnancy Rates Rising