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C’Niya Sistrunk

Professor Whitener

English 102

24 March 2021

Restrictions on Birth Control

Let me guess you're trying to put your phone down as we speak to read this paper? I know,

because I am the same way. We are living in a society where young people are so caught up in

technology more than ever. We often even find ourselves sometimes scrolling on TikTok,

Snapchat, or even Instagram for hours at a time. Social media and the music trending now are

shaping the way people act. Through social media today, sex is a topic that is being used more

openly with women. Women are expressing their sexual lives and pleasures through songs,

pictures, and videos, normalizing it at a young age today. Whether it be from the explicit music

we listen to like Cardi B or Megan the Stallion to the explicit shows we watch or even the videos

we see on TikTok. Young people are being influenced and pressured by this every day and some

are even afraid to talk about sex with their parents or guardian. This is why all minors should be

able to purchase birth control without parents' consent in all states to reduce the number of

teenage pregnancies. It would prevent struggling single teen moms, fewer high school dropouts,

and even depression in teens.

By the government allowing all minors access to birth control without parental consent

would overall reduce teen pregnancies. This would have a huge effect on the number of

struggling teen moms we have in the US that need government help. Teen pregnancy comes with

a lot of responsibility that girls don’t realize until they are in the situation. According to the

Single Mother Guide, “Single motherhood has grown so common in America that today 80
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percent of single-parent families are headed by single mothers — nearly a third of those live in

poverty” ( Single Mother Statistics). Still being in high school with no job or even a minimum

wage job to provide for a baby is a lot for someone especially if she has no help from the father.

As said in the Single Mother Guide, “Today 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 — a total of

about 15.7 million — are being raised without a father” ( Single Mother Statistics). The father in

teen pregnancies usually tends to leave the mom hanging and doing most of the work for the

baby herself since they are not married or even in a serious relationship. My research also states

that “ Only one-third of single mothers received any child support, and the average amount these

mothers received was only about $430 a month” ( Single Mother Statistics). This just makes it

hard overall for a mom to do this on her own and have to receive a lot of government assistance.

By the government allowing all minors access to birth control without parental consent

would overall prevent fewer high school dropouts. According to America’s Promise Alliance,

“ Nearly one-third of teen girls who have dropped out of high school cite early pregnancy or

parenthood as a key reason. Only 40 percent of teen moms finish high school, and less than two

percent of teen mothers (those who have a baby before age 18) finish college by age 30”

(Shuger). This shows that when teens are pregnant it sets them back from reaching their goals

and full potential in life. Teen moms' lives are put on a hold because of a baby, and their low

education level can even affect them and even their child negatively. Not only does it affect the

teen moms but it affects the US as a whole, “ It is estimated that over the course of his or her

lifetime, a single high school dropout costs the nation approximately $260,000 in lost earnings,

taxes, and productivity” (Shuger). This is why birth control without parents’ consent can prevent

fewer high school dropouts and money the government loses.

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In addition, the government allowing all minors access to birth control without parental

consent would help prevent depression in girls at a young age. According to the Seleni Maternal

Mental Health Institute, “the highest incidence of postpartum depression occurred among girls

age 15 to 19 – at a rate twice as high as PPD in moms older than 25” (Reese). After teen

pregnancy, they suffer the most PPD than any other age group which is not good. But this is not

all they suffer from, teen moms face plenty of more challenges. Whether it be from dealing with

the shame of unplanned teen pregnancy to finishing school and finding employment. They tend

to be more ashamed, judged, and they are already in puberty so hormones are worse than ever.

This can lead to suicide by teens feeling alone and feeling like their life is over. This is why teen

pregnancy can lead to depression and this is not something we want to happen in women’s lives

in the US.

Overall, teen pregnancy is a huge topic that should be talked about more in the US.

Especially since the United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in the world, about

750,000 pregnancies to teens each year (Shuger). This is why the rules for purchasing birth

control should be looked over again. All minors should be able to purchase birth control without

parents' consent in all states to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. This would prevent

many situations like struggling single teen moms, high school dropouts, and even depression. It

will overall help our country and young women positively.

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Works Cited

Single mother statistics. (2020, August 29). Retrieved April 06, 2021, from

https://singlemotherguide.com/single-mother-statistics/

Reese, Diana. “The Mental Health of Teen Moms Matters - Seleni - Maternal Mental Health

Institute.” Seleni, Seleni - Maternal Mental Health Institute, 16 Mar. 2018,

www.seleni.org/advice-support/2018/3/14/the-mental-health-of-teen-moms-matters.

Shuger, L. (2012). Teen Pregnancy and High School Dropout: What Communities are Doing to

Address These Issues. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned

Pregnancy and America’s Promise Alliance.