This paper explores the question, "Should pregnant teens marry the fathers of their babies?" Conservatives argue that the responsibility of pregnancy obligates the parents to raise their child in an intact, traditional home in which the mother and father are married. This paper argues, however, that obligatory marriage adds another major problem to the situation rather than providing a viable solution. This paper contends that any unwanted, unplanned pregnancy is a complex enough circumstance with which to contend. Forced marriage, based solely on the fact of such a pregnancy, tends to compound the problem, not provide a solution. This paper argues that teenaged pregnancy should be dealt with separately in as unemotional and clear-headed a way as possible. This is also an argument for enforcing both the rights and responsibilities of fatherhood in such a circumstance. Fatherhood should be as solemn a responsibility as is motherhood; this issue needs to be addressed separately from the issue of enforced marriage. The best possible solution in most cases may be to give the child up for adoption, allowing more responsible people to fulfill the parenting role.
Though experts do not agree on exact statistics, the consensus of opinion indicates that many young people begin to become sexually active in their early to mid-teens. At the same time, the average age at which individuals marry for the first time is rising. Young people experience less pressure to find a mate as soon as possible, yet begin sexual experimentation at an earlier age than most of their parents. Fenton Johnson observes, "Almost a third of babies are now born out of wedlock . . . Whether by design or by happenstance, these unmarried women are the primary force in changing the profile of the family" (45).
Sex education in the schools is itself a volatile issue; parental opposition and objections from conservative groups sometimes prevents such education ...