For decades, preventing pregnancy among teens was framed as a public health and social priority. Young women were encouraged to stay in school, pursue careers, build financial stability, and wait until they were emotionally and economically prepared to have children. So why are some media voices and public figures suddenly sounding alarms that teen girls and young women “aren’t having enough babies”?
In this episode, we unpack the contradictions behind today’s birth rate panic and examine the harmful narratives being directed at young women—especially teen girls. We explore the social and political forces shaping these conversations, the pressure they place on girls’ bodies and futures, and the deeper questions underneath it all: Who benefits from these messages? And why are young women being blamed for broader economic and demographic shifts?
","author_name":"Planned Parenthood of Florida"}