By: Madison Keatings
Adolescent parents are faced with incredible challenges. Two of the less commonly discussed challenges are stigma and discrimination. While most of us are aware of the existence of prejudice toward these individuals in our society, it is rarely talked about. Ideals, conceptions of situations or things that are most suitable, dictate what a parent “should” look like. In Western culture, this tends to be someone who is heterosexual, married, educated, financially stable, and approximately 30 years of age. Stigma occurs when a parent does not fit this ideal. While someone exhibiting all of these qualities may be successful in raising a child, these qualities do not equal a quality parent, or, similarly, an inferior parent.
According to Statistics Canada, approximately 13,000 infants are born to adolescent parents in Canada each year. These adolescent parents are subject to many different types of stigma, some of the most notable being stereotypes and discrimination. Due to their age, adolescent parents are often stereotyped as inferior, having poor character, and morality. Furthermore, their child is assumed to be unwanted and restricted by their situation. Upon pregnancy, these derogatory narratives are applied to them. We need to recognize how invalid and dangerous these generalizations are, as this oppression is costly to these individuals and their families. As one might imagine, the mental health suffering that can occur as a result of this discrimination can be fatal. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has recently identified suicide as one of the leading causes of death among new mothers. In addition to navigating being a new parent, facing this oppression is an incredible weight to carry. These individuals are limited and deterred by the scrutiny they face. It makes it exceptionally more difficult for them to access resources such as housing, child care, mental health services, support groups, and food banks. This discrimination undermines their opportunities and potential to thrive before their child is even born.
One of the most telling indicators of this issue is the absence of information that is available about adolescent parents, the stigma they face, and related resources. This is representative of how adolescent parents are overlooked in our society. To help break the stigma that has been built around adolescent parents, we must promote conversations about the issue and the individuals that are affected, and refute the stereotypes society has placed upon them. Furthermore, we can contribute to organizations that support adolescent parents and provide them with opportunities they are deprived of. The Terra Centre is a non-profit organization that provides support to adolescent parents in Edmonton and the surrounding area. Terra offers childcare programs, mental health services, housing support, clothing and essentials, support groups, classes, and academic achievement programs to adolescent parents. Terra attempts to combat the issue of educational suffering in adolescent parents through their various academic achievement programs. These programs are structured to encourage adolescent teens through their high school and post-secondary completion. In the 2018 Terra Talk Back Survey, 97% of participants declared that the Educational Achievement Services at Terra contributed to their ability to continue their education. For more details on services offered by The Terra Centre, check out their website at: https://terracentre.ca/
On February 14th, 2023, Champions of Change held a Valentine's Day Matchmaking and Candygram Fundraising Event in support of The Terra Centre and in an attempt to help combat the stigmatization of adolescent parents. Head over to the “Our Previous Initiatives” tab on our website to read more about our fundraiser.
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