Teenage Pregnancy, Parenting and Intergenerational Relations

Drawing on interviews and focus groups with young mothers and fathers, their parents and other relatives, this book provides a rich exploration of the experience of being a teenage parent now, and for earlier generations, closely examining teenage pregnancy and parenting in families where two or more generations have been teenage mothers. Brown also explores the cultural and social contexts of teenage parenting by including the views of people who have many years’ experience of working with young parents in health, social and welfare settings. The book challenges policy contexts which focus on negative aspects of teenage parenting, and shows that for many young people, parenting can be a positive experience. It will appeal to academics, policymakers and professionals with an interest in teenage pregnancy and parenting.

• children
• family
• parenting
• babies
• intimate life
• social work
• family policy
• generations
• qualitative
• ethnography
• mother
• father
• health

“Brown not only presents her own qualitative work in a clear and convincing manner but also links her findings to the existing rich qualitative and quantitative scholarship on teen pregnancy. Her focus on multigenerational families and the support provided by mothers, grandmothers, aunts and siblings provides great insight into the lived experience of teen mothers and fathers. This book should be required reading for politicians in the UK and the US.” (James Trussell, Princeton University, USA)

“Clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers are far removed from the practical worlds of teen mothers and fathers. Where middle class professionals see only bad choices, unremitting hardship, and long-term failure, teen parents report that their lives are enriched and their futures are brighter as they work to be good parents and role models for their children. This study helps to explain these contradictory viewpoints. By drawing on qualitative interviews with teen mothers and familymembers, this volume encourages the reader to take their perspectives seriously and to imagine a more inclusive, less stigmatizing view of young families.” (Lee SmithBattle, Saint Louis University, USA)

• Freelance researcher, United Kingdom

  Sally Brown

Sally Brown is lecturer in sociology at Edinburgh Napier University, UK. Her research interests include young people’s health and wellbeing, men’s health, screening, diagnosis and risk.

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