Teen Father's Influence On Teenage Mothers

The topic of teen pregnancy has been studied in a variety of areas, but much of the research focuses on the teen mother. Over nineteen years ago, researchers Allen and Doherty (1996) found “compared with adolescent mothers, relatively little is known about adolescent fathers (p. 220). Although, current literature still continues to support most of the focus on young parenthood has been on the teen mothers. The teen father’s role in the life of the child should be considered just as important as the mother. However, there have been fewer investigations to address teen fathers. Teen fathers are often not included in research, because it is assumed that they leave the relationship once their girlfriends are pregnant and are not unwilling to be …show more content…
According to Mollborn (2010), “A large and growing body of literature on teenage childbearing generally focuses on one of two areas: preventing teenage pregnancy or documenting its consequences for young mothers and their families”. Based on the lack of emphasis placed on teen fathers perhaps teen fathers lack a clear understanding or perceiving what means to be a father. Could this be because lack of accountability placed on teen fathers or possible lack or role model? Several studies have been done to examine to accountability place on teen fathers and the black community. Findings from those studies identified a different expectation place on African American teen fathers compared to ethic groups. In the African American cultural expectation of the father is perceived differently as compared to other cultures. African Americans community experienced higher birth rates than that of other racial/ethnic groups, accounting for more than a fourth of all teenage mothers in 2007 (Hamilton et al., 2009). Prior literature also shows that African American male adolescents are more likely to become fathers than White or Hispanic male teens (Martinez, Chandra, Jones, & Mosher, 2006). Could it be reasonably to assume African American teen fathers lack a role model to demonstrate fatherhood? In the 2010 Census fathers not in the home for white American children was 21 percent and for African-American children, it 's 57 percent (U. S. Census Bureau, 2010). This is a clear indication that over 57% of African American grow up in home without the father. A study was conducted by Middlebrook and Gordon where they interviewed 20 successful men about their relationship with their dads. Middlebrook and Gordon found on top of the other drug relates, lack of education, and minimal economic opportunities. The men