A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE EXPERIENCES OF PREGNANT ADOLESCENTS: DYNAMICS OF CONTROL AND RESISTANCE

Abstract

<p>This research examines experiences of control and resistance during adolescent pregnancy. The research consisted of indepth interviews with eight pregnant adolescents in Southern Ontario. The study shows how young women experiencing early pregnancy encounter a loss of control due to the structural and cultural barriers to independence which exist in a patriarchal society. They lack structural power i.n the form of money and knowledge and lose cultural power through stigmatization and the physical changes associated with pregnancy. It further demonstrates how young women respond to this loss of control. Specifically, they not only react with resignation, but also with evasion, manipulation and active resistance in the attempt to gain personal power.</p>