by Jacqueline Morris
16 and Pregant? No worries…..Forever 21 has just created a new line of maternity clothes entitled Love 21 Maternity that will be featured in several stores in targeted states. These states include California, Texas, Alaska, Arizona, and Utah, all of which have high teen pregnancy rates. Coincidence? I think not! Forever 21 is trying to market to their target audience and by selling exclusively in these states they have accomplished their goal.
Critics however disagree with the release of a maternity line specifically for teens. Is Forever 21 saying that it’s ok to be a teenager and be pregnant? No I don’t believe so! I think they are adjusting themselves for the situation at hand. More and more teenagers are getting pregnant and this is a niche that nobody else has had the nerve to tap into. Forever 21 was smart for creating this line and as you see when you walk into any Forever 21, the store is not just for teenagers. There are mothers and daughters who shop together at Forever 21. This maternity line will just serve as an alternative to other maternity stores who may not sell small enough sizes, stylish clothes, or at a low enough price. Love 21 Maternity features a complete collection of jeans, leggings, and tops all priced at under $20.
Forever 21 is not the problem. The problem lies much, much deeper and until we decide to face the problem and propose viable solutions, the problem will continue to exist.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Teen moms more likely to have preterm baby
CORK, Ireland, July 9 (UPI) -- Teen mothers are at higher risk for a preterm birth and a child with low birth weight, especially if it is her second child, researchers in Ireland say.
Ali Khashan of the University College Cork and a team of researchers analyzed data of all 14-to-29-year-old women who had a live baby in the northwest of England from January 2004 to December 2006.
The researchers said 3,636 women were ages 14-17 at the time of birth, 7,506 ages 18-19 and 45,211 ages 20-29.
Khashan says the rates of teen pregnancy increased with increased poverty and more than one-third of the teen mothers came from the most socially deprived areas. In the study, the teen mothers were more likely to be underweight and white.
"It is possible that the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcome is related to biological immaturity," Khashan says in a statement.
"It is also possible that the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcome in the second teenage pregnancy is related to numerous complicating factors such as greater social deprivation and less prenatal care."
The study is published in the journal Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Ali Khashan of the University College Cork and a team of researchers analyzed data of all 14-to-29-year-old women who had a live baby in the northwest of England from January 2004 to December 2006.
The researchers said 3,636 women were ages 14-17 at the time of birth, 7,506 ages 18-19 and 45,211 ages 20-29.
Khashan says the rates of teen pregnancy increased with increased poverty and more than one-third of the teen mothers came from the most socially deprived areas. In the study, the teen mothers were more likely to be underweight and white.
"It is possible that the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcome is related to biological immaturity," Khashan says in a statement.
"It is also possible that the increased risk of poor pregnancy outcome in the second teenage pregnancy is related to numerous complicating factors such as greater social deprivation and less prenatal care."
The study is published in the journal Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Friday, July 2, 2010
New Program Aims To Lower Teen Pregnancy Rate Among Hispanics
On Tuesday, a coalition of national and local advocacy groups announced a collaboration to lower the pregnancy rate and facilitate family planning decisions among Hispanic teens. The initiative emphasizes policies that provide support for Hispanic families, promote sexual health information and improve sex education.
The teen pregnancy rate among Hispanics is the highest of any U.S. ethnic group and nearly twice the national average for all teens, according to the National Council of La Raza's Institute for Hispanic Health. Fifty-two percent of Hispanic teens become pregnant before age 20, the institute reports. Hispanic teen pregnancy and birth rates rose between 2005 and 2006, marking the first increase since 1990, according to NCLR.
Maria Rosa, a NCLR vice president, said, "When a Latina teen becomes pregnant, this impacts her chances of graduating high school, having a successful career and improving her socio-economic status" (Costa, San Antonio Express-News, 6/29).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org.
The teen pregnancy rate among Hispanics is the highest of any U.S. ethnic group and nearly twice the national average for all teens, according to the National Council of La Raza's Institute for Hispanic Health. Fifty-two percent of Hispanic teens become pregnant before age 20, the institute reports. Hispanic teen pregnancy and birth rates rose between 2005 and 2006, marking the first increase since 1990, according to NCLR.
Maria Rosa, a NCLR vice president, said, "When a Latina teen becomes pregnant, this impacts her chances of graduating high school, having a successful career and improving her socio-economic status" (Costa, San Antonio Express-News, 6/29).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org.
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