Teen Pregnancy: The New Feminism

Photo by San Diego Family

Published: April 2, 2008 Author: Krystina Orozco
Total Views: 1641 Philippine News

SAN FRANCISCO — “It’s good morning time; it’s good morning time, mommy,” shouts 3-year-old Isaiah San Diego Pajarillo on an early Friday morning. Eyes still stapled shut, mommy Alexandra San Diego becomes blessed with a sudden rainfall of kisses as Zaya playfully tries to open her eyelids as eagerly and zestfully as he would try and open any candy-filled jar. The life of a 23-year-old brings a tale of two circumstances: a young, lovely mother who now learns the essence of life through the lens of her child, and a soon-to-be graduate with a major in Business Management fiercely determined to expand a family business into opening up her very own interior decorating store.

Teen pregnancy has always been one of those circumstances our strict, Filipino society of conservative first-generation parents constantly warns us against. Alex’s case wasn’t that far from different. She discovered she was two months pregnant in 2004 when she went for her annual check-up. Shocked and afraid, Alex and boyfriend Michael Pajarillo sat down with their parents to reveal what had just happened. They decided they would raise the child responsibly, although marriage wouldn’t be part of the equation.

The film character Juno MacGuff and real-life Jamie Lynn Spear’s, Britney’s 16-year-old sister, are two clear indications that while adolescent pregnancies may look “in,” volumes of data seems to show the trend is not on the rise.

A recent study by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics shows that:
* More teenagers are finishing high school.
* Fewer teenagers were having sex (47 percent in 2005, down from 54 percent in 1991), and if they were, they made sure to use protection (63 percent in 2005, up from 46 percent in 1991).
* Teenage birth rate is at an all-time low. The birth rate in 2005 was 21 per 1,000 students; in 1991 the rate was 39 per 1,000.
“I think the H.I.V./AIDS epidemic and the efforts in the 1980s and 90s had a lot to do with that,” the Associated Press quotes James Wagoner, president of the non-profit Advocates for Youth as explaining the significance of the 2007 study.


“We need to encourage young teens to delay sexual initiation, and we need to make sure they get all the information they need about condoms and birth control,” he said.

Alex admits the world she and Mike had created put a bit of distance between them and their parents. But upon preparing for baby Zaya’s arrival, their families learned to accept what their decision with as much love and support than the two had ever asked for. They’ve become even more proud of the two especially after Alex and Mike had gone back to school. While Alex not that far behind, the both are very blessed to be celebrating Mike’s upcoming graduation by this 2008 semester. As both full-time students, Alex and Mike not only have a bright and confident future ahead of themselves, but a beautiful baby boy to share their joys with.


Neither regret nor compromise was ever made. Education was as much a priority to the couple as was a strong and solid family life.

“There’s always struggles in life and people may look down upon them, but teenage pregnancy is just a different type of struggle that’s worth conquering because it teaches you to become selfless; not only do you learn how to take good care of yourself, but of a whole family as well,” says Mike.

“Everyone says it’s too hard to go back to school after giving birth at a young age, but you can make it work. There were thoughts and fears of missing out on college-social life, but if it weren’t for Zaya, I would have maybe partied too hard and missed out on what’s truly important in my life. He became my source of focus in achieving my goals,” says Alex.

Not all teen mothers have a happy ending like Alex’s, but pregnancy at a young age is on the wane as more women show ambition and aspire to carve a career over family. 

Alex looks to her experience and ventures the theory that teen pregnancy can likewise be the essence of true feminism.

“It marks a young woman’s right to integrity and autonomy in both her personal and professional life,” she declares.

This theory of new feminism can be distinguished by teenage girls who have given birth at a young age and had carefully broken all irresponsible-type stereotypes by demonstrating the fantastic ability to be resilient – to return to finish school while balancing such independence with family life. Alex is one of those who have shown the way. — With a report from Cristina DC Pastor