In response to the shift in adolescent fertility rates, from African Americans teens having the highest rates to Chicanas/Mexican Americans, a number of studies have surfaced on the topic of adolescent pregnancy among Chicanas. However, continuously missing from these studies and the literature they produce is a more holistic approach to examining the impact of adolescent pregnancy. Namely, what long-term affects does this reproductive choice have on one's child(ren) remains unknown. Thus, cognizant of the silencing of children born to teen parents in adolescent pregnancy literature, this study strives to (1) draw distinctions between adolescent pregnancy generally and adolescent pregnancy among Chicanas and (2) explore some of the long-term affects this experince has on children born to single, teen Chicana parents, with regard to sexual activity, family planning, and educational achievement. Using a cross-sectional, qualitative survey study on four Chicana college students, who were born to single, Chicana teen mothers, the results obtained show that reproductive health choices such as unplanned pregnancy resolution decisions were decisons predominately shaped by one's mother's choices, expectations, and the experince of having a difficult childhood. Moreover, education understood as a means for ending economic hardship motivated these women to go to college, making them epitomes of "American Success."
Learning Objectives: Attendees will gain insight on Chicana teen pregnancy from a Chicana feminist epistemology as well as a fundamental understanding of some of the long-term affects female children, of single, Chicana mothers articulate
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.