The Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, Moms Offering Moms Support and the Department of Sociology will host a luncheon and discussion with authors and associate professors of sociology Mary Patrice Erdmans and Timothy Black to discuss their newly released book, On Being a Teen Mom: Life Before Pregnancy. The talk will be held at the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women Living Room on the second floor of the Tinkham Veale University Center on Wednesday, March 25, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
In 2013, New York City launched a public education campaign with posters of frowning or crying children saying such things as “I’m twice as likely not to graduate high school because you had me as a teen” and “Honestly, Mom, chances are he won’t stay with you.” Campaigns like this support a public narrative that portrays teen mothers as threatening the moral order, bankrupting state coffers, and causing high rates of poverty, incarceration and school dropout, according to the authors. In addition, they say, these efforts demonize teen mothers but tell us nothing about their lives before they became pregnant.
In their book, the authors tell the life stories of 108 brown, white, and black teen mothers, exposing the problems in their lives often overlooked in pregnancy prevention campaigns. Some stories are tragic and painful, marked by sexual abuse, partner violence and school failure. Others depict "girl next door" characters whose unintended pregnancies lay bare insidious gender disparities. Offering a fresh perspective on the links between teen births and social inequalities, this book demonstrates how the intersecting hierarchies of gender, race, and class shape the biographies of young mothers.
Book copies will be made available for purchase and attendees will get the opportunity to have their copies signed by the authors.
Lunch will be provided. .
