Discrimination Against Pregnant and Young Latina Mothers in California Schools

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http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2010/05/03/separate-equal-even-pregnant-young-mothers-school


Separate and Uninformed: Discrimination Against Pregnant and Young Latina Mothers in California Schools


Separate is not equal. We know that to be true in many contexts, including historically segregated schools, neighborhoods, and institutions. The young people in our communities seeking an equal opportunity to learn, be healthy and thrive face countless challenges as the policies created to support them are but a faint backdrop, if present at all, in their lives.

This is especially true if you are a young person of color in California. And if you happen to be pregnant, or a young mom, the promise of an equal education is made even more obscure by our institutions. Separate schools for pregnant and parenting youth are not equal.

According to a new report by California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Young Women Speak Out!, pregnant and parenting young Latinas face systemic discrimination in educational institutions, lack access to equal educational opportunities and experience a dearth of social supports in their communities.

-snip holds info on the discrimination and how it works-

We know from research and our own experience that Latina/o parents strongly support comprehensive sexuality education. A recent study by the Public Health Institute found that 90 percent of Latina/o parents in California support comprehensive sexuality education. At the same time, the focus group participants encouraged the availability of sexuality education for their parents and more communication about sexuality within their families. Why aren’t educational institutions listening to our youth and their families?

If we really want to support young people, particularly the most disenfranchised youth, we need to start by examining their realities and ensuring that our policies are promoting their health and educational opportunities. Keeping them in the dark about critical information they need, then blaming them for the consequences, is not the answer. And relegating young women who are pregnant to a corner of the school -- or to another school altogether – is not only counter to civil rights laws, it is a shocking denial of young people’s dignity.

It is time for our educational institutions to take action and ensure that all young people – including pregnant youth and young families – have equal opportunities to learn, be healthy and parent with dignity. Separate and uninformed has never been equal. Not then, not now. Not ever.
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[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[Captain Hilts]

2. This problem has many layers, but this, clearly, is NOT the solution.

The California school system has a huge mandate and decreasing funds to deal with the most basic tasks of schools.

The Latino drop out rate is HUGE and needs to be addressed effectively.

There seems to be a lot of pressure to have children young in the Latino community.

Education and counselling seems to be the solution to all these challenges.