Not long ago, the answer to this question was a definite yes. In the 1970s, you could have been asked to drop out of school if you were an unwed pregnant minor, or you could have lost your job for taking maternity leave.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun said that the sex discrimination laws mean that “women as capable of doing their jobs as their male counterparts may not be forced to choose between having a child and having a job.”*
The law now allows you to continue your education if you′re pregnant.You can′t be discriminated against because you′re pregnant or because you′ve had an abortion. Some school districts offer programs for pregnant teens, allowing them to obtain prenatal care and parenting classes, and to stay on track with academic schoolwork. Check to see if your district offers these opportunities.
You may also be able to obtain prenatal medical care, with or without your parents′ consent. If your parents know about the pregnancy and are supportive, all the better. But if they don′t know, or if they oppose it, you can still get the medical attention you and the baby need.
In 1978, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act regarding employment was passed. The Act applies to you whether you′re a teenager or an adult. It prohibits any discrimination based solely on your medical condition, resulting from an abortion or a pregnancy. If you′re a full-time employee, you may take maternity leave (often without pay) and without fear of losing your job. This affects few teenagers because most aren′t employed full-time. Depending on the circumstances, maternity leave may apply to teenage parents. States may have their own laws on this subject, so check into your local rules or contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Office (EEOC).
The courts have gone one step further in eliminating discrimination against women in the workplace. The Supreme Court ruled in 1991 that employers can′t exclude women of childbearing age from jobs that pose reproductive hazards, such as industrial jobs. Gender-based discrimination, whether to protect the mother or her future children, is unlawful.
*Auto Workers v. Johnson Controls, 499 U.S. 187 (1991).
FYI
Campaign for Our Children
www.cfoc.org
Lots of information about teen pregnancy. The site was designed for parents, but you can go here, too.National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
teenpregnancy.org
This site offers lots of information on and research about teen pregnancy. Read others′ stories, learn about STDs, and much more.For current CDs, videos and books about teen health and pregnancy take a look at: http://www.youthtoday.org/
