Submitted by: Georgette Nassar-Raie
Poverty can be defined in either a relative sense (being poor compared with others in the same society) or an absolute sense (lacking necessities). By either definition, there are a large number of poor people in the United States, despite its relative affluence, and this number has increased since the late 1970s. Most poor people are non-Hispanic whites but blacks and Hispanics have high poverty rates, as do female-headed families and people who live in either central cities or rural areas. Among the key causes of poverty are unemployment, low wages, and the inability of single mothers to earn sufficient wages to pay the costs of day care, medical care and support their families.
It appears that relatively few people are poor because they prefer welfare to work. Although welfare dependency does occur, it is less widespread than is commonly believed, and most of the nonworking poor have good reasons to be out of the labor force. During 1970s and particularly the 1980s, government policies both raised the poverty rate (by allowing unemployment to increase in order to fight inflation) and made the impact of poverty more severe. The effects of poverty are devastating in nearly every aspect of life especially when young American teenagers get pregnant at a very early age.
Again, poverty is more widespread and severe in the United States than in other industrialized countries, and children are more likely than other Americans to be poor. One contributing factor is that American teenagers are more likely to get pregnant and have a baby than teenagers in other industrialized countries. When this happens, their children often experience poverty. WHY, then, do American teenagers get pregnant so much more often than teenagers in other countries? At least part of the answer is that they are less likely to use contraceptives. Part of the reason for that, in turn, is that it is harder for American teenagers to get contraceptives. Many Americans believe that making contraceptives available to teenagers will encourage them to have sex. So, let’s stop for a minute and think what would happen if contraceptives were more available to U.S. teenagers??? If contraceptives were more available to U.S. teenagers, there is a high possibility that they will use those contraceptives which means that fewer teenage births and fewer teenage abortions. Not just that, the poverty rate will definitely go down.
Funny comic strip but true. Its unfortunate that the majority of poor families only have one parent and more often then not its the mother doing the job by herself. I am a avid supporter of the child support system because I feel men in most cases get off way to easy when it comes to caring for children. In the cartoon would Mom have to get another job if Dad was around? I doubt it. Would the government have to issue two individual welfare checks if Mom and Dad were together? I doubt that too! The idea that its cheaper to stay together is just a personal theory on mine.
ReplyDeleteOn the the pregnacy issue I agree that making contraceptives readily available would curve the teenage pregnacy rates downard but I think sex education would have a greater overall impact on teenage sex life as a whole. Humans will have sex at one age or another, thats just one of the many things we were designed to do. The crazy part is the fact that we do it with any and everyone without protection, pretty scary! If schools were to implement a strong sex education course which spoke in depth of every STD and show very graphic pictures simultaniously teenagers would change their tune on unprotected sex and maybe even sex altogether.
Parents. When it comes to discussing topics of sex education and poverty with their children where are they? Parents need to stop being scared or embrassed and be the ones setting the foundation on these topics with kids not schools and friends. Even if the Moms and Dads aren't married or wealthy they still have life expirence that they can draw from. As crazy as it may sound it would be easier for a parent to translate their message to the youth if they were poor or a single parent because the first hand expirence would be the most credible. PARENTS STEP UP!!!
I think its interesting that a 25 year old video is still 100% relevant. That to me says proves that teen pregnancy is a social issue. I also agree that teen pregnancy largly contributes to helping the poor stay poor. If you think about it, a sixteen year old girl who has a child most is statistcly unlikely to finish school. They will also not really ever be able to financialy get ahead because having a child is obviously expensive. The above comment makes a good point as far as parents needing to step up. The lack of parenting and guidance in this city alone is really sad when you consider that these teens never really had a chance. Its a vicious cycle.
ReplyDeleteThis video is so true and is still relavent. Teenage pregnancy happens when teens have a lack of guidence. Its not that they dont choose to use contraceptives. A lot of them dont know about them. Teenagers are not aware of certain issues. Parents fail to inform their kids. Parents may not want their child growing up too fast or knowing these things, but if they educated and protect their childen it would be much better. Teenagers are highly influenced by what they see and hear in their homes, society and as well as the media. Teens learn almost EVERYTHING they know from heir HOME ENVIORNMENTS. They follow after their parents and relatives. Poverty plays a big role in this. Its becoming a modern day plague. Welfare and W.I.C. can only do so much at a time. In order for teenager not to experience poverty they need to be further informed and protected.
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