Teenage Pregnancy Term Paper Essay Example for Free

Teenage Pregnancy Term Paper Essay Introduction: This Term Paper aims to discuss the effects of rising early pregnancy cases and how it affects our country. Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy in a female under the age of 20. It is one of the major factors that affect the population growth in our country, Philippines. It is considered to be the major problems of the government is facing today. According to the government statistics records, teenage pregnancy cases rise more than 70% over a decade. These alarming cases caught the attention of some lawmakers. The only solution that the government made was the so-called Reproduction Health Bill (RH Bill). This bill aims to free access of use of contraceptives, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care. The government conceived this as the solution to the said problem. Others may see it as helpful, but some also disagree about it. Teenage pregnancy is continously growing and affects our economic growth. Basically, teenage pregnancy occurs due to the following reasons: General rebelliousness, peer pressure and lack of self-esteem. Causes of Teenage Pregnancy: Rebelliousness -There is rebelliousness of parents and of rules of adults. During the teenage stage, there is a burst of sudden and unknown emotions. Teens feel a natural sense of rebelling against the set norms and rules. Coupled with a sudden sense of fresh-found liberation and sexuality, results in giving vent to their feelings through sexual experiences. Peer Pressure -Peer pressure is another early stage of pregnancies. This pressure causes sexual intimacy for the opposite sex. If a child hangs out with a group who  are sexually active, then there are possibilities that 9 out of 10 that teenager is sexually active. Most of the teenagers often to have sexual intercourse because they need to fit in with their circle of friends. They’re only way to be accepted by that so called circle of friends is to have sexual intercourse with the opposite sex and have sexual relations. Lack of Self-Esteem -It is among the causes of teen pregnancy. Children who are not shown love and affection from parents will seek it out with their circle of friends (peer group). Many teenagers report feeling pressured by their peers to have sexual intercourse before they are ready. Media: â€Å"The 16 and Pregnant is an American reality television series that debuted June 11, 2009 on MTV. It follows the stories of pregnant teenage girls in High School dealing with the hardships of teenage pregnancy. Each episode features a different teenage girl, with the episode typically beginning when she is 4 and a half to 8 months into her pregnancy. The episode typically ends when the baby is a few months old. The series is produced in a documentary format, with an animation on notebook paper showing highlights during each episode preceding the commercial breaks. â€Å" (Reference from wikipedia) MTV is criticized for creating an acceptance of teen pregnancy. By creating a show about pregnant teens, the show’s creators may be sending the message to teens that it isn’t a big deal if they become pregnant. It is proven that teens are often influenced by TV. Actually, according to a study conducted by The National Campaign â€Å"most teens (79% of girls and 67% of boys) say that when a TV show or character they like deals with teen pregnancy, it makes them think more about their own risk of getting pregnant or causing a pregnancy and how to avoid it† (â€Å"Teen Pregnancy†). Parents feel that the popularity of â€Å"16 and Pregnant† will allow teens to think that teen pregnancy is acceptable. The National Campaign states that â€Å"research has found that the sexual content in media can influence teens’ attitudes about sex and contraception and may also influence their sexual behavior† (â€Å"The National Campaign†). It is because of this statistic that MTV is teaming up  with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy to create viewing guides on 16 and Pregnant. The 16 and Pregnant viewing guides will hopefully allow parents and educators to start discussions with teens encouraging them to make the right decisions when dealing with their sexual health. Why teen pregnancy is a cause for concern? The issue of teenage pregnancies is a cause for concern, and it is necessary that we draw the attention of the authorities to it’s diverse effects. According to statistics compiled in February 2004 by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 34% of teenage girls get pregnant at least once before they turn 20 (which is about 820,000 per year). Despite the fact that teen pregnancy rates are declining in the United States, this data illustrates the fact that the United States has the highest pregnancy rate in the industrialized world. Teen pregnancy has negative affects on teen parents, their children, and society in general. Negative Affects on Teen Parents Teen mothers are statistically less likely to continue their education through high school and college. In fact, only about 1/3 of teen mothers ever earn a high school diploma, and only 1.5% of teen mothers receive a college degree by the time they are 30 years of age. In addition to the decline of education prospects, teen mothers also have increased health risks. In fact, more than a quarter of pregnant teens report physical abuse in their relationships. Other health risks include disorders such as: anemia, hypertension, obesity, and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s). Anemia- Anemia is a disease where the number of red blood cells falls below normal and the body gets less oxygen as a result. Therefore, the body has less energy than it needs to function correctly. When the number of red blood cells decreases, the heart has to work harder, which means that it has to pump more blood in order to distribute oxygen throughout the body. As a result, one can develop a rapid heartbeat or another serious condition that enlarges the heart muscle, which can cause heart failure. Hypertension- When someone has hypertension (also known as high blood pressure), the force of the blood against ones artery walls are too strong. Over time, this excessive pressure can damage your arteries as well as your heart and kidneys. Hypertension is rather dangerous, for there are no warning signs or symptoms unless the problem is severe. Hypertension can lead to strokes, and other deadly afflictions. Obesity- While we all need some fat tissues in our bodies, having too much body fat is known as obesity. Obesity is a serious medical disease that affects about 14% of adolescents in the United States, and is the second leading cause of preventable death. STD’s- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s) are diseases that are contracted and spread by having sex with someone who has one of the diseases. Sexual activity can include contact with the mouth, anus, vagina and penis (all of which are capable of giving as well as receiving STD’s). These can be serious illnesses and require immediate attention. Some STD’s, such as AIDS, are deadly and have no cure, therefore it is important to learn ways to protect yourself from STD’s such as: genital herpes, hepatitis B, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS. Negative Affects on Children Children born from teen mothers have a higher chance of experiencing health problems. In fact, children born to teen mothers have a 20% higher chance of being born with low birth weight, which is one of the most common complications found in children of teens. Low birth weight can lead to blindness, deafness, respiratory problems, as well as mental illness, cerebral palsy, and even death. Not only do children born to teen mothers have a higher chance of experiencing health complications, but they also typically receive less medical care and treatment than other children, born to older mothers. On another note, teen parents are young, inexperienced, and for the most part, lack a completed education. This has been known to lead to inadequate parenting, for one is too young to appropriately provide the kind of environment that children need to develop and mature properly. Eventually this will affect the children’s performance in school, for  children of teenage mothers score lower than average on standardized tests, and are about twice as likely to repeat a grade at some point in their education. Children born to teen mothers are also twice as likely to be victims of abuse and neglect. Negative Affects on Society Because teen pregnancy rates are so high in the US. 34% of all females get pregnant at least once before the age of 20. This can cost our society billions of dollars each year, as the majority of teen mothers are single parents, lack a complete education, and end up on welfare. About $40 billion are spent by the federal government alone to help these families. References: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-24/an-number-of-teenage-pregnancies-doubled-in-philippines-in-last/5341334?pfm=ms https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2013/09/26/1238116/root-causes-adolescenct-pregnancy?nomobile=1 https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2011/07/04/low-self-esteem-a-factor-of-teenage-pregnancy-research/ https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/11556441/

A Pair of Tickets Amy Tan Essay -- essays papers

A Pair of Tickets Amy Tan Amy Tan’s A Pair Of Tickets is a story concerning family and roots. June May, like the author herself, was a Chinese born in USA and grew up with an American background culture, whereas her mother grew up in China and then immigrated to America. Looking at the repeated words, we discussed that one there are many words such as mother, sister, father and Aiyi. Most of the characters in this story belong to one family, June May’s family. It suggests to us that the tale is about relations and where we stand in our family. Even Aiyi brings practically her whole family to see her brother and niece. This is also one of the stronger traits of the Chinese cultures where there are many family occasions. The Story also constantly talks of â€Å"blood.† In the western culture, blood, which is usually connected with red, symbolizes a sacrifice, death and also a bloodline. As we look at the previous repeated words, the â€Å"blood† means a lineage of family and relations. Blood also signifies your identity. In the story, May June, does not understand her Chinese blood identity at the beginning. She was embarrassed by her mother’s behavior. She did not realize what it meant when her mother said â€Å"Once you are born Chinese, you cannot help but feel and think Chinese†¦It is in your blood, waiting to be let go.† She admits that even though she is 36 years old, â€Å"I’ve never known what it means to be Chinese.† It is not until she goes to China and finally meets her half sisters that she understands what it is to be Chinese. â€Å"And now I see what part of me is Chinese. It is so obvious. It is my family. It is in our blood. After a ll these years, it can finally be let go.† Red color in the Chinese tradition is different fro... ...er Chinese culture and identity to Jing-mei. The title â€Å"A Pair of Tickets,† is the story of a father and daughter on a journey from one place, America, to another, China. The action from moving from America to China, also symbolizes the movement of Jing-mei’s recognition of her identity as she shifts from her American culture to her new Chinese Culture that was already in her blood. Not only is this journey a physical action, but also a spiritual journey. Through this spiritual journey, Jing-mei, clarifies her identity, the struggles of trying to accept her Chinese roots, and the misunderstandings she had of her mother. She gains respect towards her mother as she learns the battle her mother has fought to get to America. In the course of this journey, Jing-mei has learned to understand and respect her family. â€Å"After all these years, it can finally be let go.†

Mexican Peso Case Study Essay

1. Take a look at Mexico’s balance of payments over the past few years. Use the schedule I have attached to the case – it is in the same format as we used to examine the U. S. balance of payments. What do the trade and current account balances suggest about the likelihood of a potential devaluation of the peso? Why? a. It suggests that because Mexico is importing twice as much as they are exporting that there is a strong chance that the peso will lose value to counter the constant increase in imports. It is also important to point out that the exports in 1974 and 1975 are practically the same. The current account balance is negative 4 billion U. S. dollars which is 4 times larger than it was in 1972. All this leads me to believe that the peso needs to be devalued in order to raise the amount Mexico exports. 2. What does the private capital account suggest about the need for a devaluation of the peso? Why? a. The private capital account is a positive 3 billion which indicates that there are a lot more imports than exports suggesting that Mexico is either borrowing a larger portion of money or selling some of its assets. Consequently there is a need for the devaluation of the peso. 3. What does the private transactions balance suggest about the valuation of the peso and whether a very large devaluation was imminent? Why? a. By looking at the private transactions balance it suggest that there was not a dire need for a very large devaluation because it is a positive 172 million where as it has been no larger than 222 million and no smaller than 39 million. That is not to say that the peso did not need to be devaluated however. 4. Take a look at Exhibit 5 in the case – Mexico’s international reserves. What has happened to Mexico’s total foreign exchange reserves since 1970? How would you interpret this trend in terms of evaluating the strength or weakness of the peso in the foreign exchange market? Would you conclude that the peso was likely to be substantially devalued from this data? Why? a. With a gradual increase in Mexico’s total foreign exchange reserves since 1970 it looks like they were preparing for the devaluation of the peso for some time now. The increase in reserves is them trying to prevent or delay the devaluation. From just this data alone however I would not believe that the peso is at risk of being devaluated. 5. Take a look at Exhibit 7 and the forward discounts on the peso versus the dollar. On June 18, what did the market think the peso was likely to do over the next three months? On August 27, what did the market think the peso was likely to do versus the dollar over the next three months? Between June and August, what was the market saying about the magnitude and/or probability of a devaluation of the peso over the next three months? a. On June 18th it was believed that over a 3 month period that the peso would depreciate 20% vs. the U. S. dollar and on August 27th it was believed that the peso would only depreciate 9. 08% over the same time frame. During that time frame the market thought there was a less and less chance that the peso was going to get devaluated. 6. Look at the commercial bank lending rates to prime borrowers in Exhibit 8. Based on these nominal prime borrowing rates, would you expect the peso to appreciate or depreciate against the dollar and by how much? Why? a. If using the December 1975lending rates, the peso would depreciate against the dollar by 5. 9% because Mexico’s interest rate is nearly twice as high as the United States’. 7. What should be the PPP Mexican peso/U. S. dollar exchange rate based on price level changes in Mexico and the U. S. between 1954 and 1975. Given your calculation, is the Mexican peso reasonably valued at the new exchange rate of MP20. 5/U. S$? Briefly explain why. a. The PPP for the Mexican peso/U. S. dollar exchange rate should be MP13. 29/$ and I believe that the new exchange rate is too high, especially when compared to the 13. 29 PPP. Another reason to believe that it is not reasonable is that looking at exhibits 5 and 7 indicates that the peso may not have needed to be devaluated much at all considering the increase in Mexico’s reserves and the decrease in the forward discount from June to August. 8. Suppose the Mexican government had decided not to devalue the peso. What would have been some of the economic and financial policies it could have implemented to defend the currency? How would these policies affect employment and income levels in Mexico? a. Financial policies that could have been implemented would be to limit the number of imports and/or raise import taxes and loosen up their taxes on corporations to encourage new business in Mexico. It would raise employment while having a positive effect on income levels compared to if the peso was devaluated. 9. Please evaluate the future of the peso based on your answers to the above questions as well as the following information: (1) Oil production is likely to come on stream shortly and oil is priced in the world markets in dollars. (2) Foreign oil companies will be making substantial investments in Mexican oil fields. (3) The Mexican government will be able to control inflation. a. The future of the peso is going to look bright because they are increasing jobs by having companies invest in their oil fields. Although other countries will be making money so will Mexico. Since the dollar will be stronger than the peso, the money being made off oil would be equal to more pesos since it was devalued. This will increase exports and since they are able to control inflation it gives them greater control

Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D. - ThoughtCo