Tackling the ‘problem’ of teenage pregnancy was proclaimed as one of the priorities of New Labour. It is an issue that is rarely out of the news and provokes strong opinions from all sides of the political spectrum. This article discusses the social, political and historical context to the current debate. It argues that the centrality of the issues of social inequality and reproductive choice to the debate make it important for socialists and feminists.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ALRA (1997) A report on nhs abortion services, London: Abortion Law Reform Association.
2.
Amos, V., Lewis, G., Mama, A. and Parmar, P. (eds.) (1984) ‘Many Voices, One Chant: Black Feminist Perspectives’,Feminist Review, Special Issue, No. 17.
3.
Bhavnani, K-K. and Coulson, M. (1986) ‘Transforming Socialist-Feminism: The Challenge of Racism’,Feminist Review, No 23, pp. 81–92.
4.
Burack, R. (2000) ‘Young Teenagers' attitudes towards general practitioners and their provision of sexual health care’,British Journal of General Practice, 50, pp. 550–554.
5.
Chambers, R. and Milsom, G. (1995) Audit of Contraceptive Services in Mid and North Staffordshire in Secondary Care and the Community, Keele: Keele University.
6.
Chambers, R., Wakley, G. and Chambers, S. (2001) Tackling Teenage Pregnancy: sex, culture and needs, Abingdon: Radcliffe Medical Press.
7.
Department of Health (1998) Our Healthier Nation: a Contract for Health, London: HMSO.
8.
Department of Health (2001) The National Strategy for Sexual Health and hiv, London: Department of Health.
9.
DfEE (2000) Sex and Relationship Education Guidance, Department for Education and Employment.
10.
Furedi, A. (1996) Unplanned pregnancy: your choices, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
11.
Garside, R., Ayres, R., Owen, M., Pearson, V. and Roizen, J. (2000) ‘General practitioners' attitudes to sexual activity in under-sixteens’,Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Vol. 93, pp. 563–564.
12.
Greenwood, K. and Young, J. (1976) Abortion in Demand, London: Pluto Press.
13.
Hawkes, G. (1995) ‘Responsibility and irresponsibility: young women and family planning’,Sociology, Vol. 29. No. 2, pp. 257–273.
14.
Hoggart, L. (1996) ‘The campaign for birth control in the 1920s’, in Digby, A. And Stewart, J. Gender, health and welfare, London: Routledge.
15.
Holland, J. (1993) ‘Sexuality and ethnicity: variations in young women's sexual knowledge and practice’,WRAP Paper 8, London: the Tufnell Press.
16.
Holland, J., Ramazanoglu, C. and Sharp, S. and Thomson, R. (1992) ‘Pleasure, pressure and power: some contradictions of gendered sexuality’,The Sociological Review, 40(4), pp 645–674.
17.
Home Office/Ministerial Group on the Family (1998) Supporting Families, London: Home Office and Voluntary and Community Unit.
18.
Jewell, D., Tacchi, J. and Donovan, J. (2000) ‘Teenage Pregnancy: whose problem is it?’,Family Practice, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 522–528.
19.
Lewis, J. (1992) Women in Britain since 1945, Oxford: Blackwell.
20.
Lovenduski, J. and Randall, V. (1993) Contemporary feminist politics: women and power in Britain, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
21.
ONS (2001) Population Trends, 103, London: Office for National Statistics.
22.
Phoenix, A. (1991) Young Mothers?Cambridge: Polity Press
23.
SEU (1999) Teenage Pregnancy, Cmd 4342.London: The Stationery Office.
24.
Sheldon, S. (1997) Beyond control: medical power and abortion law, London: Pluto Press.
25.
Tabberer, S., Hall. C., Prendergast, S. and Webster. A. (2000) Teenage Pregnancy and Choice, York: York Publishing Services (Joseph Rowntree Foundation).
26.
Thomson, R. and Scott, S. (1991) Learning about Sex: Young Women and the Social Construction of Sexual Identity, London: The Tufnell Press.
27.
Wasoff, F. and Dey, I. (2000) Family Policy, Eastbourne: The Gildredge Press Ltd.
28.
Weeks, J. (1981) Sex, politics and society, London: Longman.
29.
West, J. (1999) ‘(not) talking about sex: youth, identity and sexuality’,Sociological Review, Vol. 47, No. 3. pp. 525–547.