As I began my research on the growing issue in Memphis, Tennessee, my topic slowly, but began to change. I’d mention before that infant mortality was also an issue when it came to teen pregnancy, yet I did not realize how big of an issue it really was. The majority of teen pregnancies occur in the poorest zip codes of Memphis, which makes it a struggle for the baby to make it to its’ first birthday. Slowly, but surely, my topic changed from Are teen moms ignorant to the facts about sex and becoming teen mothers, to Teen pregnancy and infant mortality rates in poverty.
I found a great DVD documentary that had a lot of good information on the subject that was filmed right here in Memphis, Beyond Babyland. I heard about it through a co-worker and thought I should watch it before I decided to start other research on teen pregnancy. After watching the documentary, I was in tears over how teen pregnancy occurred in poverty, and how it was almost a never ending cycle.
I never realized how hard it was to get through the pregnancy and also how hard it was for the infant to make it to its’ first birthday. I already knew that teen pregnancy was a growing issue throughout all classes (lower class, middle class, and high class), but never did I realize how bad of a problem it was in poverty. The assumptions that people make about them are not always right, and most teens in poverty simply just do not know any better.
I was so touched by that documentary, that I felt compelled to tell their (teens in poverty) side of the story.