June, 2009

The New Mommy

Hispanic Magazine, 06/01/2009 –

Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas is quoted in this Hispanic Magazine article on birth's to unmarried women. Read more »

Latina Teen Pregnancy Surveys Should Avoid Blame

RH Reality Check, 06/01/2009 –

A recent opinion survey makes a good attempt to identify the social and cultural dynamics that may lie behind the high rate of pregnancy among U.S.-based Latina teens. Existing efforts to curb teen pregnancy miss the mark for many Latinos, and more investment like this is needed to identify better messages and programs. Unfortunately, the limitations found in this type of study lead to more questions than answers, and the accompanying analysis leaves itself exposed to the potential for scapegoating - rather than helping - Latino teens and their families.

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The FundamentaList (No. 83)

The American Propect, 06/03/2009 –

4. She's a Catholic Latina, She Must Be Anti-Choice. Or Not.

Because Sotomayor was raised Catholic, speculation was rampant last week about how Catholic she really is and whether she follows church teaching on all matters, including abortion.

As Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, told me, "The Pope thinks that if you're baptized a Catholic, you're a Catholic." Read more »

Study: Latina Teen Pregnancies on the Rise

Acceso Hispano, 06/11/2009 –

The study comes on the heels of another analysis conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention out-of-wedlock birth rates have gone up, especially among Latinas. Silvia Henriquez- executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health- warned that the results shouldn’t be misconstrued to stigmatize single motherhood:

(…) we need to take this opportunity to call for greater economic support, health care access and education for all women, so that those wishing to be mothers can raise healthy and happy children, with or without the support of a spouse. Specifically we must remember that women still get paid less than men do for the same work and that women who are insured pay higher insurance premiums for health care coverage than men do. Both of these issues put single working mothers at a lower socio-economic status than women in two income households.