rssAnd a Pregnant Kid Wouldn’t Be Such an Issue Either, Except the GOP Has Made it One
Thursday, September 04, 2008 at 2:53 pm
- 9 Comments
Perhaps there’s nothing eye-popping about a small-town mayor rejoicing over a big-time check from Washington, but in the context of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s claims to rugged federalism, the celebration takes on a new meaning.
Similarly, there’s nothing inherently unusual or terribly controversial about a 17-year-old getting pregnant — unless her mother is a powerful politician whose position on sex education borders on Puritan. As was widely reported this week, Palin’s 2006 response to a questionnaire from the conservative Eagle Forum Alaska left little doubt why reproductive rights groups are cringing at the thought of her winning the White House:
Q: Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?
Palin: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.
Palin is also a member of Feminists for Life, an anti-abortion group whose Web site states that, “Preconception issues including abstinence and contraception are outside of our mission.”
It’s one of those issues where America’s culture divide is very real — and neither side looks ready to give ground any time soon. Indeed, just this summer, the Bush administration proposed new rules blurring the lines between birth control and abortion.
“It-Takes-A-Family” conservatives have held tightly to the idea that public school is no place to learn the art of safe sex. Still, the experience of Bristol Palin might be evidence that the village has a role to play as well.
9 Comments
Comment posted September 4, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
In light of the large number of pregnant brides in Colonial New England, the Puritans were not as sexually limited as legend might hold.
Comment posted January 1, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
So the Puritans is not limited in the legend only, what about in the not legend part?
Comment posted January 15, 2009 @ 9:44 am
That is very true, we wont make any hype if a normal 17 year old girl become pregnant because this is happening now and then everywhere. But when she is daughter of a politician who does not support sex-ed program, then we make it a big issue
Comment posted January 20, 2009 @ 6:05 am
I wish to wish all pregnant women of good mood, easy pregnancy and natural sorts!
Good luck also are happy! Give birth easily and independently! Let not doctors give birth for you, and you!
Also adjust itself on chest feeding of the kid! Read the necessary information!
Be, lovely pregnant mums and expecting posterities of the daddy, are healthy and wise!
Comment posted February 28, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
I think her treatment has been terrible but, she isn't helping herself staying in the limelight
Comment posted March 14, 2009 @ 11:43 am
this is not something new :), worldwide, rates of teenage pregnancy range from 143 per 1000 in some sub-Saharan African countries to 2.9 per 1000 in South Korea?
Comment posted April 8, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually.
Comment posted April 8, 2009 @ 9:57 pm
The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually.
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