Is stigmatizing teen moms

Tweets by ETR. A study has recently come out that has everyone in my field talking. Announcements were made in all my professional networks. This new study shows that lesbian, gay and bisexual teens are more likely to experience a pregnancy than their heterosexual counterparts. I was happy to see that this new research was getting people in my community talking about an issue I care deeply about: the health and well-being of youth—especially the health and well-being of youth who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. However, this is not new information.

Regret for the inconvenience: we are taking measures to prevent fraudulent form submissions by extractors and page crawlers. Received: October 12, Published: November 25, Adolescent pregnancy, a social stigma. MOJ Anat Physiol. DOI:

When I read about year-old Maddi Runkles being banned from walking in her high school graduation because she was pregnant , my heart hurt. I thought back to my own graduation and how accomplished I felt when I accepted my diploma, having given birth to my daughter, Nelly, only months before. Runkles' situation is a lot like mine was.

This week, news broke that a Michigan school district is barring two teens from displaying their pregnant bellies in their school yearbook. Aside from the ironic fact that teens who receive abstinence-only education are actually more likely to become pregnant than the students who receive accurate sexual health information about prevention methods, the situation in Michigan also illustrates the pervasive negativity that Americans associate with teenage pregnancies. Unfortunately, the situation in Michigan is hardly the only example of this dynamic in play. Here are five other instances of teen moms being shamed instead of supported:.