Over the past decade, Milwaukee has experienced a 54 percent drop in its teen birth rate, bolstered by dramatic decreases in both the African American and Hispanic populations.
The United Way and city officials announced the statistics, a few days ago.
To find out what messages are getting through to some young women these days, WUWM’sLaToya Dennis headed over to Carmen Northwest High School to speak with Kenya Brown, Asia Perry, Nyla Clarke, Taylor McCloud and Katelyn Brown.
The ninth and tenth graders told WUWM why they're choosing not to have sex right now.
“You’re at a young age where you have your whole life in front of you. And you have to go to college and if you get pregnant that’s bad because you might not be able to experience your degrees.” - Kenya Brown
“Nobody’s guaranteed to have your back once you’re pregnant.” - Asia Perry
“When you’re a teenager that shouldn’t be your focus. Sometimes you’re not mentally ready for that type of stuff. And then you just be going crazy because you just fall in love with that person because it might be your first. And it’s just too much for a teenage brain.” - Nyla Clarke
“Boys will focus more on what you physically have rather than what you mentally have because you throw them the physical part and not the mental part.” - Taylor McCloud
