| Teenage pregnancy is a reality. We are living | | | | |
| in a world where it is still believed that | | | | The attitudes of teens and young adults |
| boys can be sexually aggressive and it is the | | | | toward premarital and casual sex have become |
| duty of the girls to resist sexual advances. | | | | more conservative -- most likely due to |
| Teens are exposed to an environment where | | | | increased fear of unwanted pregnancy, |
| drugs, violence, sex, money and peer | | | | sexually transmitted diseases, and especially |
| pressures are an ever-present force that | | | | AIDS. At the same time, a gender gap exists |
| affects both their behavior and perception of | | | | between the attitudes of young men and women |
| life. Today's teens are more protected and | | | | about sex: more men than women believe that |
| sheltered from the consequences of their | | | | casual sex is acceptable, and most girls and |
| behavior than ever before. | | | | boys agree that girls have sex because the |
| | | | boys want it. |
| Abstinence is the most effective | | | | |
| contraceptive. Teenagers should learn to show | | | | What's perhaps even worse than the dangerous |
| affection and love in many of the non-sexual | | | | opportunities teen girls are at risk for is |
| expressions and not involve in sexual | | | | the fact that most of them will not talk to |
| activity. Pressurizing or forcing anyone into | | | | their parents about these dangers they face. |
| sexual intercourse is not acceptable. It does | | | | No matter how good your communication is with |
| not show love or respect. It only shows how | | | | your daughter, there are things she will not |
| selfish, exploitative and disrespectful the | | | | and cannot tell you, things she needs |
| person is. Teenagers should avoid high-risk | | | | desperately to tell someone. The answer to |
| situations like being alone in someone else's | | | | this problem is being your daughter's best |
| house or car. Youngsters should learn to say, | | | | friend. |
| "There is no doubt that I love you. But I am | | | | |
| not ready for the kind of intimacy you are | | | | Both teens and adults believe good |
| expecting. If you really love me, respect my | | | | communication between parents and children |
| feelings." A true friend would definitely | | | | can help prevent teen pregnancy. Mnay say |
| respect their feelings. | | | | that having parents who don't give enough |
| | | | love, attention, and supervision or don't |
| There are some youngsters who feel that they | | | | teach morals increases the likelihood of teen |
| are entitled to experience everything under | | | | pregnancy. Both teens and adults believe that |
| the sun, irrespective of the high risk | | | | the media plays a role in teen pregnancy. |
| involved. These are individuals who | | | | |
| experiment with drugs, alcohol and tobacco | | | | For many parents finding out that their son |
| and also with multiple partners. | | | | or daughter has been struggling with teen |
| | | | drug abuse is a catastrophic revelation. |
| Then there is another group of young adults | | | | Thoughts of failure, disappointment, guilt, |
| who believe that everyone else around them | | | | and embarrassment flood a parents mind. |
| are sexually active but are not becoming | | | | However, you must remember that you are not |
| pregnant or not suffering from AIDS. "Why | | | | the only parent to face such a situation. And |
| should I alone deprive myself?" But in | | | | more importantly, many families have overcome |
| reality, they are in the midst of friends who | | | | teen drug abuse in the past. |
| are in a fantasy world. | | | | |