I don't typically discuss politics. And I'm not going to do that now either because I think that women's issues are not about politics. Women's issues are just that ~ women's issues.
Say women's choices, however, & it makes it sound like politics. I'll stick to issues.
I went to a Women's Fund Forum today where the chosen topic was Teen Pregnancy. It was actually the topic that I had suggested so I was pleased that they had included all types of health care & education providers.
However, they only had speakers that were offering either statistics regarding teen births in Shasta County or Cal-Safe, which is basically Mary Street School for teen moms. Their agenda was to propel girls toward having & keeping their babies & continuing their education.
That's an excellent choice if that's a woman's decision, but that was really the only "choice" presented.
My problems with this forum were several:
The health care providers that attended were relegated to the rear of the room & not the podium & were never really given a chance to speak.
There was an inherent uncomfortableness in the room the two times the word abortion & emergency contraception were mentioned.
There was also that same discomfort when the topic turned toward sex education in the schools.
The Shasta County School Superintendent proudly said that all freshman were required to take Personal Growth. My same-aged friend & I had whispered to each other not 10 seconds before he brought it up what a joke Personal Growth had been in 9th grade.
And it really doesn't have to be a joke. If they could just separate the boys & the girls into different classrooms so it could be taken more seriously. 14 & 15 year old kids are going to behave immaturely in a coed environment in response to sexual material.
And this is what I said at the forum. I think when I one-on-one explained my position & why I popped out with "but we were just discussing that 9th grade Personal Growth was a joke" my comment was better understood.
Sometimes it just bubbles over & I say what I think. It happens more & more as I'm getting older.
I believe that there are some fundamental problems in this county & a huge example was demonstrated to me today: There is such a large distance between the women that are involved in strategies for helping these potential teen moms, both in age & economics, that the problem can't really even be put into relativity for this forum.
I'm approaching my late thirties & I feel removed but still a witness in my own life to teen moms that I have close to me. I see the things they give up & the things they have irretrievably lost.
I know they love their children & would not trade them for anything but if they were to tell younger girls if they would have waited if they could do it again I believe they would.
I just don't think that topic was suggested today. It was all about the Grandma's oohhing & aahhing at the photos of the teen moms' babies put in the power point. Or the video of a success story that brought her baby to the forum that totally moved me to tears but she was only one doing well out of hundreds in this county that aren't making it.
I don't know where I'm going with this. I love the Women's Fund & I'm proud to be a part of it. And I applaud anyone & everyone that gets involved.
Getting involved in anything is so valuable.
Join the fight. What fight? Any fight.
I just feel that the age & economics of those involved should be better reflected by the population. It feels kind of like Little Orphan Annie giving right now.
I shouldn't even post this but I will because it's on my mind & I'm still riled up about it tonight.
I did meet & talk to & became facebook friends with the Clinic Manager of Women's Health Specialists. That made it a wonderful day.
And I spoke up & spoke my mind at the forum & I'm speaking it now. I'll always stand by what I say & what I believe, even if it makes me uncomfortable.
And I'll continue to be involved in the Women's Fund because I believe in the mission. And I know the founders believe in the mission, too.
I just wish more of my friends could be involved. But it's a time & money commitment that most of them can't afford. That's why the age & economic gaps are so big.
I try to be neutral about many things but I am so passionate about Teen Pregnancy. I just believe in my heart it's the fastest track to poverty that you can pave.
Have a thoughtful night.
I am so with you on this topic....look at the poverty and ignorance children in this community experience. Parenting is the most important job in the world and it doesn't just "happen"!
ReplyDeleteI ment to comment on this topic a week or so ago... but I was so busy trying to maintain my house and all of my children. ( I have 3 of my own and a wonderful step-son who might as well be mine too).
ReplyDeleteSo here I am, 5:30 in the a.m. finally getting the chance to comment on this blog. I have to say this one really hit home for me, because I am 30 years old, and my children are 12, 10 and 9 years old. I started early, too early... I was too young. Immature. Not ready.
So here's my story, I was with a boy who I thought was everything and I was pondering the idea of sleeping with him... I had never been that route before and was afraid, not of having sex because I honestly thought that I was emotionally ready for it, but more so afraid of becoming pregant. I had a lot going for me at the time. I was going to beauty school and was going to work my way through the psychology program at chico state. I had dreams, and hopes... so I went to the clinic, and got on Birth control and loaded up on condoms!
I slept with my boyfriend, for several months. Never had a scare. Went to work and school and continued my life as a teenager.
Until my sister found my birthcontrol and blabbed it to my father (gotta love siblings) which in turn, my father took away my right to be responsible, and my right to even see or talk to my boyfriend. He flushed my pills and trashed my condoms... but it didn't stop me,(I was a ignorant child) I still went behind my parents back, and "saw" my boyfriend. I became pregnant on the night of my Senior Prom. My entire life changed, with the blink of an eye.
My choice was to keep my baby. My boyfriend became abusive, and I left. Which left me no choice but to get on welfare and food stamps, I had to quit working because I had no way to get to work, or school,(didn't have a drivers license or a car) I watched all of my friends move on to bigger and better things, while I stayed home with my parents and bore my daughter. I was soon engadged and married to a marine, who brought comfort and security in my life, always provided medical, dental, and vision... and most of all, a paycheck. But I still was at home, and bore two other children before I was 22 years old. (all accidents)
Now, I am 30. Fastly approaching 31. I have my babies... and I cherish and love them with every part of my soul. Which is why I wish that I could have waited to have them. Because they are little humans, who deserve a proper raising and a fair chance. I can't help but to think, that I could have made it better for them on my own... If I just would've thought about my choices. I am starting classes in the fall, I let my cosmo license expire, and never renewed- and I personally think I have too many self-worth problems of my own to major in psychology, I am a self taught bookkeeper... so that is the route I am taking now. But, my concern is how much I will be able to focus... my children come first, then my relationship, friends,family, job... the list goes on... I agree that teenage pregnancy is a huge issue in this community, I am still facing the consiquences of it myself. No education. No career. No savings. It's sad.
Babies are a wonderful addition to anyone's family... I just think that young women need to realize the changes they are going to have to face in life, with that.. the added stresses, which in turn directs that negative energy to your unborn child, and will cause your child to be uneasy, and stressed as well. Being ready for a child, and knowing the kind of life that you want for them and preparing that life as much as you can before hand, will illiminate a lot of worry.
The role of being a mother and father are VERY important!! I will agree with the above poster, it doesn't just HAPPEN. :)
Thank you for your honest post! And I am so with you on this one!!!
wink wink ;)