VulcanRider- I don't think the girls here are concerned with experimenting, they seem deluded into thinking that pregnancy and motherhood are a good idea.

Now, as for accidental pregnancies, until we as a society wise up about actually educating our teens on birth control... and NOT in an abstinence-only sense... they'll continue to be a problem.

Indeed, abstinence-only doesn't work. Teenagers and kids of the age we would call children WILL have sex, the best we can do is ensure that it doesn't wreck their lives.

Teenagers do not consider the consequences of such actions, if they did, they'd KNOW that getting pregnant and such is a bad idea. No matter how dangerous or undangerous it is, they'll always either not think of it, or just think: "It won't happen to me."

Honestly, if consequences EVER worked at scaring people into morality(Not saying that being promiscuous is immoral, of course, it's people's own damn business.), then we'd just need to implement the death penalty for all crimes and we'd have no crime. But fact is that having the death penalty seems to make little-to-no noticeable difference, so I think we can hardly assume that something as, comparably, mild as possible pregnancy or catching STD's will scare someone out of having sex.

If my 14 year old daughter dare to get pregnant at such a young age, I will publicly disown her, chase her out of the house, and erase her name from the family tree book. This is also the same warning I gave to my sister, since basically I am her guardian.

Don't play play...

Basically, IMHO humans are stupid and are good at following trends, and i'm not at all suprised that it is regarded as "trendy"
If a 14 year old decideds to do the stupid thing and get pregnant thats her fault and to a certain degree the parents fault (I dont believe parents can ultimately stop this however, regarless of upbringing)
I would not wish for anyone to have to grow up with a mother that can't even drive a car yet (at least here they can't)

If it were my child, they would have that baby removed one way or another asap.

So basically:
Pull out coathanger! (joking)

in ancient history, women have (As Luvian said) always had children at about 13-14 however I guess things changed and as women began to look after themselves (were not forced to be just housewives) they put it off... or something...

Will we ever stop kids racing cars, doing drugs, robbing people, smoking? IMPOSSIBLE, these things will always happen and there is NOTHING you can do to stop it.
I believe it's possible to lower the rate of occurance, but these things will never stop. especially when it involves our most basic instinct... to reproduce ;)

It's a stupid descion, however it's their descion and one that they will likely regret forever. It will destroy (in most cases) their own lives and their childrens lives. Plus its a drain on the economy and their family's income.

/rant

Well I'd have to partially disagree that consequences don't work. I'll agree that in the West, consequences won't work... but that's because there aren't really any consequences that will sink into a hormone soaked teens head.

I know the western world is all up in arms about how backward and horrible the Islamic world is... but on benefit of such a repressive society is that teenage pregnancy is really not a significant problem.

In their world, the EXTREME consequences of premarital sex (death in some cases) and the strong belief and control systems in place tend to keep the young'uns under control. We may find some of their beliefs and practices abhorrent (for good reason), but it's one way of skinning the perverbial cat.

My conclusion is that in order for consequences to be effective... they have to be more significant than the West is willing to make them.

In answer to the origonal questions:

1) What would you do if your daughter(Or some theoretical daughter you may one day have) got pregnant at, say, 14 or thereabouts?

I would encourage her to put the child up for adoption, and in any case I would provide the support required to keep her in school.

2) Do you think this is actually anything new, or just the way it's always been, but less socially acceptable and less easy to cover up these days?

It's nothing new... what is new is that humans now take longer to intellectually, emotionally, and especially economically develop than to physically develop. What this means is that while a 15 year old may have been married with children and maintaining a household in the 1800's... that's simply impossible today... other than the children part (hence the problem).

3) Do you think there's anything to be done, or is it just human nature?

Mandatory sub-cutaneous birth control for both boys and girls until they reach 21 or establish that they are able to deal with children on all the above levels.

4) Do you think these girls are making a terrible, stupid choice or that it's perfectly legitimate to decide that you want to be a mother in your teens?

It is a terrible choice in every sense for the vast majority of the children out there.

Thoran: Firstly, not all of the Islamic world is that fanatical. Secondly, there are plenty of places in the "Christian" world where you'd find some pretty extreme consequences as well. Thirdly, if anything, the consequences just mean they get very good at hiding it and that you meet a lot of back-alley abortions and such-like, it also means they don't get reported, they are probably as bad as we are.

Islamic teenagers are as "hormone-addled" as Western teenagers.

As we were raising up our younguns, I made certain to ingrain upon them the importance that IF they were going to have sexual relations (and we discussed that as a natural decision at some point), they BOTH (girl *and* guy) HAD to use protection. Period. No room for discussion. Takes two to make a baby or not make a baby.

Trust me, I harped on it so much, I don't think they'd have been able to do anything unless they followed mama's rule ;) .

CK is the youngest and she's nearly 18. Her oldest brother just turned 24. No grandchildren yet out of 4 younguns, so I guess honest discussion and heartfelt warnings work :D .

Wow. I turn my back for 2 minutes and CK's legal all of a sudden. Time sure flies.

Yep, as you're fixin' to find out first hand!

I won't quite say I wished she were little anymore, but I will say I can't figure out where all the years went. Yesterday she was a cute little tow-headed, round-faced, willful toddler; today she's a pretty young woman with her own car, a job and two tattoos!

....goes off feeling very old all the sudden......