G. Brady
Speeches:
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Young women’s experiences of termination of
pregnancy and miscarriage
Brady, G
University of Coventry, UK
In Britain, the politics and policy of teenage pregnancy places the
emphasis on ‘prevention’ of teenage pregnancy, positioning
parenthood for young people as a negative choice; this dominant
discourse is likely to influence young people’s reproductive
decisions and experiences. With this in mind, this paper focuses
on a key finding from a multidisciplinary empirical research
study, conducted in a city in the West Midlands of England, UK,
which considered and explored young people’s experience of
support before and following termination and miscarriage. Data
were collected via indepth interviews with professionals and
practitioners, young mothers and one young father. Although
termination and miscarriage are generally perceived as distinct
and different issues, the data suggest that the issues become more
blurred where younger women are concerned. The experiences of
young, ‘inappropriately pregnant teenagers’ often remain
unacknowledged and devalued. This paper highlights the social
and political context in which young women experience
termination and miscarriage, and suggests that termination and
miscarriage should be acknowledged as significant medical, social
and emotional events in the lives of young people.