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hellyeahscarleteen:

We like to issue some reminders now and then about some common discourses regarding teen pregnancy.  We often have a LOT to say about those, but one of the core issues that comes up is the idea that high rates of teen pregnancy are largely due to ignorance about contraception.

Setting aside the matter that teen pregnancy is often assumed to be exclusively unplanned or unwanted (it’s not), in reality, while lack of understanding about proper contraceptive use is certainly one factor, access to contraceptives in the first place, and consistently, is another huge one, so is sexual agency (and youth rights and agency more broadly), and certainly access to abortion.

For that reason we always encourage you to look into the stance on support for all reproductive choices at any site or organization you link or refer others to for information about pregnancy or contraceptives. Some very visible sites and orgs are not fully pro-choice and do not include or even mention abortion in their information, or, if they do, like the American Pregnancy Association, for example, include misinformation about abortion and links to “information” or “help” are links to CPCs.

As well, sound, broad research done about teen pregnancy (we really like Kristen Luker for this topic, a nearly flawless researcher who has done a great job avoiding the usual biases) has shown that socioeconomic factors and the impact of those factors — read: poverty — are really the biggest player here. Far more so than knowing about or knowing how to use contraception.

So, by all means, having accurate, in-depth information about how to prevent unwanted pregnancy or parenting is vitally important: we obviously think so as an organization.  But so is being careful none of us obscure the larger picture here or unwittingly support anyone or any initiative that may be acting counter to helping young people who do not want to become or remain pregnant.

Pro-tip: Abortion is — literally — birth control. If and when sites or orgs with birth control information and apparent support for birth control or preventing unwanted pregnancy don’t include or mention it? Look deeper and ask questions.

Special attention to the bold. We must be careful not to coerce any woman into any direction when does not want to go. Providing balanced information is key, as is supporting her final decision as shameless.

unfurlme:

As far as pregnancy goes,  realize that just as abortion is a shameless decision, so too is any other decision a woman might make. Passing judgement on a woman because she keeps her child even when she is not stably situated socially or economically is passing judgement on her based on her position in this society.

 This society is a capitalist patriarchy and thus using status within it as canon to determine who is ready to have a child is inherently anti-woman.

 A woman’s pregnancy is ground-zero. Her reproductive system is ground-zero. There is no right or wrong surrounding this ground-zero. Judgement may only be passed when she is dishonest about her reproductive capacity or her pregnancy e.g. fooling another man into thinking he is the baby’s father.

This is about celebrating woman as woman, each woman individually within the context of her own life, which is what the story of feminism is supposed to be. It is not about enabling her to make decisions so that she can compete with man in existing society as a version of a man with breasts; this is androcentric.

It is about removing barriers which prevent her from flourishing as woman (e.g. loss of pay because of maternity leave) and reforming our societies to value her womanly capacities as much as we value those of man.

and as I expect it to change more, I am reminded of how much I have adored some bodies. I miss the willing body of a boy to wrap mine in, I miss my mothers caring fingers, I miss my father’s heart-wrenching, bear-armed hugs when he has to tell me goodbye. I miss the wonder of shoulders. I still treasure all the chests I have laid my ears upon, if only for a night. I miss all the hands that have cradled my head out of care or out of lust. I respect all the bodies I have touched, I am learning to respect my own, and I am excited to see the small, new body I am creating.