• 1 in 2 Latinas becomes pregnant by the time they are 20.
• Latinas have the highest teen pregnancy rate and teen birth rate.
• The vast majority of teen pregnancies occur to Latinas living in California and Texas.

Billboards have been posted in Los Angeles this week that read, “El lugar mas peligroso para un Latino es el vientre de su madre/The most dangerous place for a Latino is in their mother’s womb.” Facts about teen pregnancy have been twisted to perpetuate false stereotypes of Latina youth. This misrepresentation of young Latinas and their sexuality does not accurately represent the facts of their lived reality. There are social conditions that have led to the disproportionate rate of unplanned pregnancies in our community. The placement of these billboards is only emblematic of the continuous harassment of our young women, and in this instance, it is sponsored by the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles.

I take great pride in growing up in a predominantly Latino community in Wilmington, CA. When looking at the numbers, I know they do not represent my community entirely. Wilmington is a low to middle income, immigrant neighborhood with low performing public schools and a lack of resources. However, if you scratch the surface, it is a neighborhood with rich cultural history, amazing resilience and is also deeply religious. Due to the religious attitudes toward sex, there is very clear messaging around abstinence until marriage. Yet, with the many teen pregnancies, it is clear that youth are not waiting to have sex. No one is talking with our youth about healthy relationships, their sexuality and about practicing safe sex.

Research has demonstrated, that evidence based comprehensive sex education programs that discuss both abstinence plus access to contraception are the most effective programs at reducing unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among young people. There is even stigma around being prepared for something youth “shouldn’t be doing in the first place.” Once youth become young mothers they are additionally stigmatized because of their choices.

Only 1 in 10 abortion clinics are located in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. In Wilmington, we have limited access to a local hospital and clinics that provide comprehensive women’s services. Anyone that needs access to abortion services has to leave the city to find it. I believe that if more preventive service providers like Planned Parenthood existed in our neighborhoods we would see a reduction in unplanned teen pregnancy and an increase in prenatal care. Having access to contraception and active community outreach could really change things for our youth. Additionally, we must build and provide support services for young mothers and their children such as day care, career training programs, and access to a college education. Removing stigma around condoms use, contraceptive use and having safe spaces to discuss our sexuality would benefit all women in our communities.

Latinas who use their right to choose an abortion and those that choose to be mothers grow up alongside each other in the same communities, face similar obstacles and understand what it means to be a woman that is only defined by their body. To set Latinas who choose to access abortion services in direct opposition to the young mothers in our communities limits the understanding of the larger social problems in Latina’s lives. We face the same limited access to employment opportunities and to a quality education. Despite these obstacles, if we choose to do so, Latinas go on to raise beautiful children, become supportive partners, and statistically become the primary income earners in our households.

The only dangerous place for a Latina is in a society where biased billboards attempt to divide communities under false pretenses and bad stereotypes. The only dangerous place for a Latina is in a community with limited services. The only dangerous place for any woman is in a world where we try to control and stigmatize access to medically accurate information and services.

To learn more facts about Latina teen pregnancy:
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/FastFacts_TPChildbearing_Latinos.pdf

To access safe and comprehensive services near you:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/findCenter.asp