Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Motherhood among Mexican-American Adolescents

The perspectives of 32 Mexican-American and 17 White adolescent females are presented regarding: (a) their romantic and sexual relation ships; (b) sex education and birth control; and (c) reactions to their pregnancy and motherhood. Mexican-American adolescents indicated notably less sexual experience than their White counterparts with the father of the baby generally being their only sexual partner. The relation ship with the father of the baby most often continued for the Mexican American adolescents, but rarely for the White adolescents. Pregnancy was unanticipated by both groups, despite their failure to use contracep tive methods. Emic data are presented both in summary form and in the adolescents' own words.