Sociological Analysis of Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage pregnancies have, for a while, been a source of concern worldwide. Statistics from the World health organization (WHO) show that every year 16 million girls aged between 15 and 19 and one million girls below 15years give birth every year (WHO, 2018). Like every other big problem m in the world, teen pregnancy can be viewed under different lenses to provide varying meanings. In this same perspective, teen pregnancy can be viewed as either trouble, an issue, or a plus to society. The factors promoting teen pregnancy are mainly the personal and sociological factors and sometimes collide. One less used to analyze the situation is the social conflict theory that states that human and social behavior in their contexts results from conflicts between different groups. In this paper, I will analyze the reality of teen pregnancy in the lens of the social conflict theory.
One of the ways that conflict manifests itself in bringing about teen pregnancy is in the relationship between parents and their children. Parents expect obedience and dependence from their children based on the assumption that they are the experienced ones and would make better decisions for their lives. Children, on the other hand, are always in pursuit of freedom from their parents to do what they would deem right (Kirchengast, 2016). The relationship always displays constant butting of heads. Children, therefore, find ways to rebel from their parents in the pursuit of freedom and, in this case, get involved in sexual activities that bring about teenage pregnancy. Resultantly, when the girls get pregnant, the parents retaliate with their own form of conflict. They chase the children out or refuse to help them financially in raising the child (Kirchengast, 2016). Some parents force their children into an abortion to adopt the children. The result is resentment. From this analysis, the social problems associated with the cause and effects of teenage pregnancy are therefore caused by the conflicts between the parents and the teenagers..
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Another Marxist train of thought that displays this conflict is the result of a conflict of control between the rich and the poor. The majority of the cases reported for teenage pregnancies are from poor backgrounds. These parents then do not get to finish school as they drop out early, then their future dreams are tampered with (Cook & Cameron, 2015). The chain reaction results in them getting poor paying jobs because of familial obligations and their poor educational background. The rich, on the other hand, have to cater to the needs of these poor families in the form of tax paying. Governments cannot let their people suffer in poverty, so they would use the tax money, contributed by the rich, to aid the poor people. The rich are bothered by this burden. There is, therefore, a conflict between these two groups of people. According to Marxist’s train of thought, this would result in a population controlled by the rich.
The advantage of using the social conflict theory is that one can see both sides of the conflict and the sentiments of each group (Cook & Cameron, 2015). The parent’s reasons for control, teenager’s rebellion, poverty of the teenage parents, and the burden of the rich are all defined within the analysis. For example, The cons of this sociological analysis are that you experience extremes and radical opinions from both sides and can confuse one on the side to stand on. Overall, this is the best theory to explain teenage pregnancies as it is presented in the greatest debates in America. It looks at the bigger picture and understands why the topic is controversial. It would also enlighten a person stereotyping the condition because they get to hear both sides of the story.
Reference
Kirchengast, S. (2016). Teenage Pregnancies: A Worldwide Social and Medical Problem. An Analysis of Contemporary Social Welfare Issues, 13.
Cook, S. M., & Cameron, S. T. (2015). Social issues of teenage pregnancy. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine, 25(9), 243-248.
WHO. (2018, February 23). Adolescent pregnancy. Who. Int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-pregnancy
