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