February 23, 200719 yr Pregnant 14-year-old says it's 'fashionable' as four friends are also expecting By TOM KELLY and LUKE SALKELD - More by this author » Last updated at 16:02pm on 23rd February 2007 Comments (50) Pregnant at 14: Kizzy Neal A pregnant 14-year-old has told how having a baby is now regarded as "fashionable" among schoolgirls. Kizzy Neal has been asked to give advice to four of her classmates who have also fallen pregnant since Christmas. More here... • Labour to think again over teen pregnancies • 'Virtual babies' encourage teenage girls to get pregnant The teen, from Torbay in Devon, said: "When my friends see my bump they say they wish they could have a baby, then three weeks later they're pregnant and don't know what to do. "Teenage girls think babies are cute, but they forget the physical side of being pregnant, then having to give up your own childhood to look after a baby. "It seems to be fashionable to get pregnant." Family campaigners said her comments showed how the Government's sex education policy had left teens with the "ridiculous but extremely worrying" misconception that having a child was no different to getting a new handbag. Her revelations come as official figures show England and Wales have the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Europe - with the biggest increase among girls under 16. Kizzy became pregnant the first time she had sex with her 13-year-old boyfriend. She is due to give birth in May and aims to take three months off her studies at Paignton Community College in Devon, before resuming her GCSE lessons next September. The teenager, who wants to become a social worker, said: "I'm lucky because my parents have stood by me. "Others think their parents will do the same, but that's not necessarily the case." Her father Kevin, 43, blamed the rise in underage pregnancies on growing "gang culture" where teenagers hang around drinking, taking drugs and having sex. He said: "There's a mentality that wearing a condom is 'uncool' whereas having sex is glamorised on the television and in music videos every day. "As a parent it's quite horrifying to hear about all the young girls falling pregnant. "The fact that Kizzy has had to help four pregnant girls just goes to show we're all failing somewhere. "And it's not just the parents, the school and the local authority - it's a social problem." His wife, Kerry, 41, insisted she 'couldn't have done more' to educate her daughter about the risks of under age sex. She said: "No-one was to blame for her getting pregnant apart from herself. She was defiant. "There's nothing for children to do in Paignton. I honestly think they get bored and think it's a fashionable thing to get pregnant." Of the four other girls at aged 14 and 15 at Paignton Community College have also fallen pregnant, two have already had abortions, one is keeping her baby and the fourth is undecided what to do. Dr Adrian Rogers, of pressure group Family Focus, said: "It is absolutely vital that we start to teach teenagers that having a baby is nothing like having a fashion accessory like a new handbag. "Falling pregnant so young will damage their child's chances of wealth, health and happiness. In many cases it will also change the girl's body forever and make her anything but fashionable." Norman Wells, from the pressure group Family and Youth Concern, said the sex education in schools had cheapened it and reduced it to a "casual recreational activity." On Thursday, Labour announced it would conduct a major review of its sex education policy after figures from Office for National Statistics revealed that the number of pregnancies among under-18s in 2005 was 39,683, up from the 35,400 recorded a decade ago. These included 7,917 pregnancies recorded among girls under 16. The bleak figures mean the Government is less than a quarter of the way to meeting its promise to halve pregnancy rates among under-18s in England by 2010.
February 23, 200719 yr Teenage girls trying to be cool and getting into fashions... ...I blame the parents for not caring about their kids.
February 23, 200719 yr There's something wrong with that picture. Hang on I know: The hooped ear-rings are missing and the chain isn't thick enough. The number of gold (!) rings is about right though :dozey:
February 23, 200719 yr Author There's something wrong with that picture. Hang on I know: The hooped ear-rings are missing and the chain isn't thick enough. The number of gold (!) rings is about right though :dozey: Are you "chaving" a laugh??:rolleyes:
February 23, 200719 yr Author Labour to think again over teen pregnancies By STEVE DOUGHTY - More by this author » Last updated at 21:39pm on 22nd February 2007 Comments (29) Labour will conduct a major review of its sex education policy after official figures showed England and Wales have the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Europe. Worryingly, the biggest increase in the latest statistics came among younger girls. The 7,917 pregnancies recorded among girls under 16 reversed several years of falling underage conception rates. The bleak figures mean the Government is less than a quarter of the way to meeting its promise to halve pregnancy rates among under-18s in England by 2010. In response, Children's Minister Beverley Hughes disclosed that a 'major review' of Labour's £138million teenage pregnancy strategy has begun. Her message that local authorities must 're- examine their approach' to cutting pregnancy rates contrasted with Government claims only last week that 'our teenage pregnancy strategy is working'. A spokesman for the Office for National Statistics, which released the figures, said: 'Despite recent declines in teenage conception rates, England and Wales have the highest teenage birth rate in Western Europe.' In 2005 the number of pregnancies among under-18s was 39,683 - up from 39,593 in 2004, and higher than the 35,400 recorded a decade ago in 1995. The pregnancy rates - rather than raw numbers - used for the Government's targets show a slightly better picture. This is perhaps because large-scale immigration is pushing up the teenage population. Immigrant teenagers, who often have strong religious convictions, are thought to be less likely to become pregnant than girls in the existing population. Pregnancy rates among under-18s in England dropped in 2005 to 41.1 girls in every 1,000, from 41.5 per cent in 2004. Mrs Hughes's target is to halve the 1998 pregnancy rate - 46.6 per 1,000 - by 2010. So far, the figures have come down by 12 per cent. At current rates, the Government has achieved less than a quarter of its target and will not even get halfway there by 2010. The first target, to cut 1998 rates by 15 per cent by 2004, was missed when that year's figures showed a drop of only 11 per cent. Critics said even that level of success was artificial, because 1998 was an anomalous year in which teen pregnancies hit a temporary peak. The Government's teenage pregnancy strategy has been based heavily on sex education and widespread distribution of contraceptives. Opponents say the campaign has done nothing to stop teenagers having sex or getting pregnant - and some local authorities have even interbecausepreted the strategy to mean teenagers have a 'right to sex'. The ONS analysis yesterday showed that teenagers who become pregnant in the most deprived areas of the country are ten times more likely to have a baby instead of procuring an abortion than teenagers in the wealthiest areas. Researchers said girls in welloff areas have more abortions they do not wish to sacrifice-the chance of university education and good jobs which are not available to many in deprived areas. But critics of the Government say that the high benefits and heavily subsidised accommodation on offer to single mothers are an incentive to pregnancy to poorly-educated teenagers. Norman Wells, of the pressure group Family and Youth Concern, said: 'These figures show once again that the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy is failing to make any real inroads into reducing teenage conception rates. 'Escalating rates of sexually transmitted infections among young people suggest that the Government's emphasis on sex education and handing out contraception to young people without their parents' knowledge may be giving the green light to sexual experimentation.'
February 24, 200719 yr What. the. fuck. OK! Man, I wish I could meet this chick. :dozey: I would have to BREAK IT DOWN for her why her and her friends are the dumbest people ever. Babies-->humans. Babies--> NOT FASHIONABLE. Babies--> NOT one of those tiny ass dogs that you can stick in your purse!!! Babies--> are your responsibility until they turn 18.
February 24, 200719 yr Teenage girls trying to be cool and getting into fashions... ...I blame the parents for not caring about their kids. You've been blaming the parents a lot. :P
February 24, 200719 yr That girl is trash, shes got the white eyeliner, the hoops, the white tee and the ..hmm, how shall I say this, "monday" hair to prove it.
February 24, 200719 yr Author What's with the sudden influx of teen pregnancy articles? The sudden influx of teen pregnancies?:rolleyes:
February 24, 200719 yr You've been blaming the parents a lot. :P Because most of the time it is the parents fault for both working full time, so they don't spend quality time with their kids.
February 24, 200719 yr Because most of the time it is the parents fault for both working full time, so they don't spend quality time with their kids. not even working full time. the ones who don't work can be equally lax about what their kids are upto
February 24, 200719 yr Author not even working full time. the ones who don't work can be equally lax about what their kids are upto Especially the ones who are too busy couching it and watching mindless soaps all day!!
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