The issue of teen pregnancy is a hot topic these days. MTV is often credited for the media attention following the success of the shows 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. Then Bristol Palin, following her mother into the spotlight, sparked debate about abstinence versus education. And one small town made national news, and became a Lifetime Movie, after it was discovered multiple girls had made a pact to get pregnant together.  

I think that these shows and subsequent attention is not, in principal, bad. I think it is important to demonstrate that being a teen mom is hard and something that should be avoided. I do, however, think that because of the societal hype over the issue of teen pregnancy, we are overlooking a huge segment of girls that have no desire to engage in risky activities, but still need education regarding their bodies and sexuality. The pressure to have sex is not the only problem girls face as they grow up.

Unfortunately, some girls may not have a trusted adult to teach them about the human body and what to expect during puberty. Some girls may rely solely on what they gather from television or their friends at school. Girls need be taught how to stand up to peer-pressure and develop self-esteem. It cannot be as simple as just say no. There are unfortunately many other unhealthy activities and practices that young adults can partake in.

Girls Inc. offers a program, Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy^® (PAP), which equips girls with the skills they need to navigate social pressures regarding sexuality, learn about puberty, discuss sexually transmitted infections, and learn about sexuality in an abstinence plus approach that provides medically accurate answers to their questions. Teen pregnancy is a big concern and should be treated as such. However, the issue cannot be singled out as the sole concern of young girls as they grow up and mature.