Teens Talk
About Preventing Teen Pregnancy

A Woman's Choice Clinic in Yakima held an essay contest for high school students, asking what they thought about teen pregnancy, what affects their decision-making, and their ideas on how to lower teen pregnancy rates. Here is what they had to say:

"Reducing teen pregnancy depends on the teenagers." - Juana

"[L]et's be honest, people are going to have sex...We must show and educate, not just say it is wrong and don't do it." - Eric

"There are many solutions like abstinence, education, and greater availability of contraceptives. One main factor is certain, adult involvement is essential for this to be dealt with in a positive manner." - Jessica [first place essay]

"I think if these kids were better educated they might realize the problems that teen parents face." - Krista

"[P]eople need to face the fact that most teens are sexually active... the best options that we have are to make birth control more accessible available and accepted, and also talk to kids at a younger age to help them understand that abstinence is important." - Kristin

"We almost have nobody to talk to that we are comfortable with." - Carissa [full essay]

"The first step to reducing teen pregnancy is parent-child communication... having sex is very common, yet getting birth control and buying condoms is still embarrassing."

"Maybe every teen should experience working with kids." - Julie

"One way to prevent teen pregnancy is to talk to a health center about the facts of having a child." - Christina

"I lucked out in some aspects but suffered in others." -Tera, teen mom [full essay]

"I know this sounds crazy, but sex can't be stopped, we can only take extra steps toward safe sex." - Audrey

"I think that some people want to ignore the fact that young girls are getting pregnant, and they think it's all their fault. Well, it's not all their fault. It's their family, friends, TV. It's their whole environment... parents need to have a closer relationship with their teen - to talk about sex at an earlier stage." - Josue

"The only way to improve our community is to get all teenagers more interested in their future." - Christina

"What are the words you do not yet have? What do you need to say? ...for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken."
- Audre Lorde

Feminist Women's Health Center