Teen Pregnancy

In the International Herald Tribune, "everymen" interviewed about Spears' pregnancy implied that since Jamie Lynn announced her pregnancy she has become dirty, wrong, bad and awful. That's a pretty shitty way of saying "Congratulations."

Look, teen pregnancy happens. It happens to stupid, girls with low self-esteem and marginal aspirations. It also happens to smart, motivated young women with big plans for their life. It would be nice if for about five seconds people could stop hissing at teenage mamas and instead provide them with the tools to succeed at their goals. When you get down to it they need the same thing that every mama needs, good healthcare, decent jobs and education, happy childcare and a support system. All needs that aren't being met for the majority of mothers in this country, regardless of age.

The problems of motherhood are amplified for teen mothers in part because they are a discrete and easily identifiable demographic group. And because teen mothers are widely regarded as less than people, the public and state feel they have a right to stick their noses in Little Cindy Slutpants' business. For her own good, of course.

And one thing bothers me above all else in the blogs and comments that I have read about Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy, no one is addressing the fact that she is not a typical sixteen year old girl. She is a highly successful sixteen year old girl with the economic, familial and intellectual resources to raise a child. In fact she has more of these resources than most women who delay childbearing.

Despite what you have heard, sixteen year olds are not inherently bad parents just like thirty year olds are not inherently good parents. I mean I'm not crazy about "Teens Trying to Conceive" and if my daughter came to me pregnant I would recommend that she get an abortion, but I'm a feminist and I do believe she has a right to that choice herself.

The best way we can help teen moms is not to wipe them off the face of the earth or starve them into abusive relationships or call them names. The best way we can help them is to treat them with respect and dignity, fight for universal healthcare and adequate childcare for the poor. We can help by not throwing them out and accusing them of worthlessness just because they aren't of voting age. The very best way we can help is by always remembering they are somebody's mother.