Teenage Birth Control Rights, Sample of Essays

3 pages, 1336 words

Commentary: Teenage birth control Rights

In today’s world, there are conflicts over the confidentiality of police reports, conflicts over the right to have an abortion, and conflicts over the release of personal medical records for public knowledge. All of these pressing issues have at least one thing in common-they are all issues of privacy. Many discussions take place regarding adults rights to privacy. Yet the same adults, who are so concerned over their rights, have proposed laws that limit the rights of teenagers. One of these bills, which regarded Title X (Ten) Birth Control Clinics, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in October of 1998. Legislators need to realize that pushing parental involvement is not ideal, and that there are many reasons why a teenager might be on birth control.

Title X Legislation was originally passed in the early 70’s and stated that women’s reproductive health care should be available to all regardless of age, race, or monetary status. It also setup “Title X” Birth Control Clinics that provided women with low-cost contraceptives as well as medical screenings. Title X has been very successful. Over the years it has aided in decreasing pregnancy rates as well as reducing the spread of AIDS and STDs. However, what worked in the simplistic age of the 70’s is not quite as effective in the transitional period of the 90’s. The new bill limiting the use of such clinics was co-sponsored by Congressmen Don Manzullo, Ernest Istook, and James Barcia. The team’s legislation stemmed from an incident in Crystal Lake, Illinois, in which a 37-year-old teacher brought his 14-year-old student to the Title X-funded county health department for birth control injections so he could continue molesting her at will (Manzullo Wins Title X Bill in House).

3 pages, 1423 words

The Essay on Birth Control

Birth control is a way or method used to prevent pregnancy. There are different kinds of methods of birth control that can be used by man and woman. All of these methods have positive effects or sides. The pros of birth control are the following: (1) lessen the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (“Pros and Cons of Different Contraceptive Methods “); (2) it is helpful ...

While this bill only mandates the Title X Clinics involve parents, it sets a dangerous model that others might soon follow.

Adults believe that the current system, which allows for teenagers to obtain birth control without parental consent, “interfere[s] with parental authority” (Fennell).

The argument is that parents feel threatened by the lack of involvement in their teen’s life. When in fact, there are many other ways to be involved in a teen’s life without being overly inquisitive regarding their personal sex lives. According to Laura Meckler, twenty-five percent of parents, and forty percent of teens are uncomfortable talking about sex (Meckler, Teen Birth Rates Decline).

Since discussion of sex causes discomfort between many parents and teenagers instead of pushing parental involvement in this issue, we should teach parents how to be involved in other aspects of their children’s lives. An article that I discovered recently stated that “mutual trust, a healthy respect for personal privacy, and communication” are the foundations of a good parent-child relationship (Being There for Your Teenager).

One way for a parent to achieve this is by being a good role model, and another is by showing love. According to Arnot Ogden Medical Center, “Plenty of love at home can make it less urgent to find love through sexual encounters” (Being there for Your Teenager).

This thought is comforting because it suggests that parents can still have a positive affect on their child’s life without mandating parental involvement in the issuance of birth control and other personal issues. The thought also allows for teenagers and parents to forge bonds, which will promote more active parental involvement in the teen’s life.

1 page, 398 words

The Essay on Teen Pregnancy Teenagers Tend To Slack On Prenatal

I. The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the western world with approximately 1 million adolescents becoming pregnant every year. II. Teenage mothers tend to have insufficient prenatal care. A. Mothers and unborn children suffer from malnutrition. 1. lack of information 2. lack of money B. Teenagers tend to slack on prenatal doctor's visits 1. less screening for potential ...

While parental involvement is essential, parental over-reaction can inhibit communication (Being There for Your Teenager).

In life, there are situations that are too embarrassing to share with others. For instance, as mentioned before, parents want to keep their medical records private, yet they want to know when/if their daughters are on birth control (which too can be a medical issue).

According to CNN there is a birth control pill “Ortho Tri-Cyclen” which has been marketed to clear up acne (FDA OK’s Using ‘The Pill’ for Acne).

Birth control pills are also given to women who suffer from cramps or have irregular menstrual cycles. It is evident that birth control has other adult, private issues associated with it; therefore, it should be treated not solely as a solution to engaging in an unprotected sexual act, but also should be regarded as a solution to certain medical ailments.

Teenagers, even though they are young, are still people and are still regarded as American Citizens. So why should their rights to privacy be invaded by over protective parents? A state bill that also regarded limiting the service of Title X Birth Control Clinics by teens, originated in Iowa. However, it was not even favored by all of Iowa’s governmental players. Senator Johnie Hammond (D) recalls that they (Iowa legislators) had tried to pass a similar bill in the past. Her belief is that its passage would have only result in more teenage pregnancy, a much higher birth rate (Maxwell), and an increase in the occurrence of STDs as well as cervical cancer. Society should praise teens who want to protect themselves from pregnancy as well as disease, not condemn them. An article published in 1996 stated that pregnancy rates have dropped by twenty percent in the last twenty years (Mauldon).

This is due partially to the fact that more and more teenagers are using contraception, and they use it sooner after becoming sexually active (Mauldon).

8 pages, 3985 words

The Term Paper on Birth Control Education School Sex Students

Birth Control Education The issue of birth control being taught and / or distributed in public schools is one worth debating. In biology and health classes students are educated in reproduction and sexuality, but not about such birth control methods such as condoms and birth control pills. While parents may touch briefly on the topic, some feel too embarrassed to discuss it with their children or ...

While in the past, the biggest concern associated with sex was teenage pregnancy, parents now need to realize that contraception (in the form of condoms) can also protect against STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and can stop the spread of AIDS. In today’s world these life-changing diseases are just as dangerous, and unwanted as pregnancy.

While in an ideal society, teens would refrain from becoming sexually active until they are more mature; presently it is impractical and foolish to have such wishes. Parents should be concerned for their teens, but should find more appropriate ways to voice their concerns instead of mandating laws that are a blatant statement against personal rights. This issue is not simply going to die and go away. For instance in St. Paul, Minnesota the seven area high schools are currently dispensing, and have been for the past year, Birth Control Pills directly to some of their female students (St. Paul OK’s IN-School Birth Control).

For all the parents who have “won” the minor battle over Title X teenage birth control rights, heed the wisdom of Sarah Brown (the director of an anti-teenage pregnancy campaign)-“While the adults are arguing, the kids are getting pregnant” (Meckler, Teen Sex Rates Drop for the First Time in 25 Years).

Bibliography

Works Cited

Being There for Your Teenager. Arnot Ogden Medical Center. 07 September 1999 .

Fennell, Bettie. Teen Health Center Splits Candidates. 3 May 1996. 07

September 1999 .

Manzullo wins Title X Battle in House. 9 October 1998. Manzullo The Seventh District of Illinois. 03 October 1999 .

Maxwell, Julie. Title X Raises Concerns Over Birth Control Issues. September 9, 1997. 07 September 1999 .

FDA OK’s Using “The Pill” for Acne. 2 January 1997. 07 September 1999

Mauldon, Jane and Kristin Luker. Does Liberalism Cause Sex The American Prospect (winter 1996).

Meckler, Laura. Teen Birth Rates Decline. 30 April 1998. 07 September 1999 .

—. Teen Sex Rate Drops for the First Time in 25 Years. 1 May 1997. 07 September 1999 .

2 pages, 669 words

The Essay on Abstinence vs. Teen Birth Control

For the past fourteen years, teen births in the United States has enjoyed a low rating. However, in 2007, this low birth rate was disrupted as there is a sudden surge in the number of teenagers getting pregnant. Based on the record of the National Center for Health Statistics, there is a three percent increase among 15 to 19 year-old girls from 2005 to 2006 after a thirty-four percent decrease ...

St. Paul OK’s In-School Birth Control: School Board Allows High Schools To Dispense Contraception Directly to Students. 12 April 1999. WCCO 4 News. 03 October1999 .