Over the past fifty years, the rate of teens and tweens becoming pregnant has increased dramatically. In the days of previous generations it was believed that if you got pregnant, you wouldn't be able to finish school to take care of the baby. If even an attempt was made to finish school, most girls would still drop out due to the shame inflicted on their peers. Now, in 2013, it's not uncommon to see a 14- or 15-year-old expecting a baby. We have television shows, like “Teen Mom” and “16 & Pregnant” that show the wonders of kids having kids. So what has changed in the mentality of our young people in recent generations? Why do we see so many girls getting pregnant at, it seems, younger and younger ages? Common reasons we find our young women getting pregnant include, but are not limited to, family values, peer pressure, and the media. Returning to history and family values ​​is a way to trace the reason for pregnancy in younger people. In colonial America, it was not uncommon for younger girls to be wives and mothers, as they were considered sufficiently developed to handle such responsibilities. However, times have changed and there is no longer a need for mothers who are still attending school. The standard expectation for children is to wait until they finish school and get married before having children of their own. According to the Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education, young people raised in a family lacking stability are more likely to turn to a partner for comfort (Journal Pg. 5). How often, or lack thereof, the child sees their parents or guardians can affect whether they become pregnant. Those who are mostly ignored by their... medium of paper... scroll, Susie. “Reality shows glamorize teen pregnancy.” Dating for teenagers. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Teen Mom: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." http://blog.susiekroll.com May 16, 2011. Opposing views in context. Network. 2 December 2013. Council, ADAM Editorial. “Teen Pregnancy.” Teenage pregnancy. U.S. National Library of Medicine, December 9, 2011. Web. November-December 2013.Domenic, Desirae M. “Teen Pregnancy in America: Causes and Answers.” Journal for Professional Needs Education 30.1 (2007): 4+. Print.Langham, RY "What Causes Teen Pregnancy?" LIVESTRONG.COM. Np, June 12, 2010. Web. November-December 2013. Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar. “Born to Consume: For MTV, Teen Pregnancy Is Big Business.” The American Conservative 10.7 (2011): 22+. Opposing points of view in context. Network. December 2. 2013.