The Teenage Pregnancy Problem in the US

There is a big disparity between the rates of teen pregnancy in the United States of America and most parts of Europe and Canada. The main reason behind this trend is the American perceptions of morality and the hypocrisies behind it. America is a country where most policies are often based on religion and liberalism, ergo conservatives versus liberals. This mode of doing things sets America apart from other European countries where policies are made based on immediate needs and their respective solutions. For instance, sex education in most American schools is largely conservative because the educators operate in the constant fear of ‘crossing the line’. Consequently, sex education as taught in a country such as France would be an abomination in most parts of America. In addition, teenage pregnancy in America is complicated by the fact that teenagers are not encouraged to embrace their sexuality although American media is dominated by this topic. In a country where people are ‘celebrated’ and gain fame for releasing private ‘sex-tapes’, it is surprising that most teenagers are vilified for exploring their sexuality. Consequently, the secret to lowering teenage pregnancies is to avoid a situation where people are running away from basic truths such as birth control, abortion, and the basics of consensual sex. Furthermore, teenagers should be put in control of their own sexuality and these decisions should not be left in the hands of a few Congress members.