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Teenage Pregnancy: The Male Perspective

Kayla Hughes

Sociology

Mr. Smith

December 15, 2013

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Introduction

This research study was designed to get a general consensus on the average young male’s

perspective of teen pregnancy; seventeen teenage males between the ages of 15 and 19 were to

be interviewed on varying questions regarding teenage pregnancy. These males were to differ on

their races and religious affiliations to prevent bias in the results from the data collected. The

questions asked in the interviews allowed the participants to give their views on the opinions and

causes of teenage pregnancy. It was expected to learn the average teenage male’s view on

teenage pregnancy to compare to the already known and publicized view that the average

teenage female has.

Literature Review

Studies show through trends and patterns that the United States has the highest teen

birthrates of all the industrialized countries in the world; these patterns have fluctuated over the

decades, but still four in ten teenage girls in America will get pregnant at least once in the age

period of fifteen to nineteen years old (Stephens, McBrideurry). Risk factors such as an

environment with a high level of poverty and male incarceration rates, low educational

expectations, and poor mental health can make young males and females more susceptible to

teenage pregnancy (Stephens, McBrideurry). The situation is clear for a teenage female when she

becomes pregnant and she is aware of what mothers are supposed to do, even as teens, but

teenage males do not have a clear idea of how they are to handle becoming a teenage father and

do not know what they are supposed to do in such a situation. Whether the teenage male is aware

of what he is to do and if he is a “naïve procreator”, “careless procreator”, or a “deliberate

procreator” he has certain responsibilities regarding the pregnancy as well (Moore et al). The
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teenage male that is the father must help the mother financially and emotionally support the

child, keep the child safe, and ensure that the child’s needs are met (Stevenson). However, this

situation can be prevented, and teen birthrates can be decreased, by targeting teenage males in

involvement programs that teach them about teenage pregnancy, like its causes, ways to prevent

it, and how to handle it (Moore et al).

Processes and Procedures

The goal of the study was to discover the average teenage male’s view on teenage

pregnancy, so seventeen teenage males between the ages of fifteen and nineteen were asked a

series of ten questions. These teenage males varied in their race, religion, age, and sexual

relationship status so that the whole young male population at Danville High School would be

accurately represented and no bias would be present in the data. The data was collected through

unstructured qualitative interviews that were recorded, and then later transcribed for quotes, and

the questions asked were designed to get a view on the general opinions and causes of teen

pregnancy. The whole study went on for just under four weeks, but the interviewing period only

lasted for about two weeks. The data collected was organized at the very end of the research

study into similar response types and compiled into an organized list.

Research Conclusions

The first four questions of the interview asked general questions that insured the right

participants were chosen. The date from these questions show that out of the seventeen males

that were interviewed 70.6% were white, 47.1% were not religious, 76.5% were seventeen years

old, and 70.6% were not sexually active. The responses to the rest of the question were more

open to interpretation so that the participants’ perspective could be more accurately recorded.
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The general consensus of the results from those questions show that the majority of the young

males at DHS were sympathetic towards teen pregnancy, thought most males viewed it

negatively, believed the fathers had certain responsibilities, would they themselves assume

responsibility, and thought that teenage pregnancy was due to the wrong mind set and a lack of

education on sex. The last question was designed to judge the mindset of the average teenage

male’s view on sexual relationships, and the replies most commonly involved the safe use of

contraceptives. The conclusion from this data is that the average teenage male at Danville High

School is aware of teenage pregnancy and how to prevent it and finds it to be a taboo subject that

is sad to see a friend go through, but is something that requires owning up to. This also implies

that the consequences of sex as a teenager is not as obscure as they are made to be and that an

accidental pregnancy should not be as surprising as it is made to be.

Sociological Analysis

The data from this research study is insightful on the teenage males’ social values, norms,

and cultural patterns. From the conclusion, the young males in society in theory value their

reputations over their common sense, create their norms accordingly, and then act in a way that

fits the pattern of teen birthrates. The responses from the interviews indicate that the teenage

males are aware of the consequences of teenage pregnancy and how to prevent it, yet the

statistics on teenage pregnancies at DHS contradicts this. This would mean that they are acting in

way that they know is risky, but want to fit in so badly that they disregard precautions. The

resulting consequences then correlate with the statistical patterns of teen birthrates for the

country. In essence, value of being cool dictates the actions of teenage males in such a way that

history repeats itself in a pattern of teenage pregnancies.

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Research Self-Reflection

I learned from this research study that the young males at Danville High School are

actually aware of their views and opinions, and are very knowledgeable. I now see now that they

are not all immature and self-absorbed, and I feel like I can discuss topics with my male peers

and get a good rebuttal. To better this study for a second trial, I would better plan how to

interview more participants and make them more diverse for more accurate results. Doing the

interview away from others was very helpful in getting serious answers, but interviewing an odd

amount of participants made the data seem off balance. All of this has spurred me into wanting to

research more female dominated topics from the males’ perspective, like body image.
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Works Cited

"Adolescent pregnancy." Sex and America's Teenagers. Guttmacher Institute, 1994. 41+. Student

Resources in Context. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Claussenius, David, et al. "A Direct Mailing to Teenage Males About Condom Use: Its Impact

On Knowledge, Attitudes and Sexual Behavior." Readings on Men: From Family

Planning Perspectives, 1987-1995. New York: Guttmacher Institute, 1996. 29+. Student

Resources in Context. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Moore, Kristin A., Anne K. Driscoll, and Theodora Ooms. "Male Involvement Programs Can

Reduce Teenage Pregnancy." Teenage Pregnancy. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. San Diego:

Greenhaven Press, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web.

24 Nov. 2013.

Stephens, Dionne P., and Velma McBrideurry. "Teenage Mothers in the United States."

Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood: In History and Society. Ed. Paula S. Fass. Vol.

3. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 807-808. Student Resources in Context.

Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Stevenson, Jessica. "Male Teenage Fathers Must Know Their Rights and Responsibilities." Teen

Pregnancy and Parenting. Lisa Frohnapfel-Krueger. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010.

Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Teen Fatherhood FAQ: A Closer Look at Your Rights

and Responsibilities." About.com. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.