Melissa Ludtke

Pregnant girls were less likely to get married in the 1990s than their peers in the 1960s. In the following viewpoint, Melissa Ludtke maintains that marriage does not make economic sense for many teens who are expecting to become parents. Furthermore, she contends, being married does not necessarily make the baby’s mother a better parent. Instead of telling teens they are too young to marry, Ludtke argues that society should persuade teens that they are too young to be parents. Ludtke, a former writer for Time magazine, is the author of On Our Own: Unmarried Motherhood in America.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How many new adolescent mothers are there every year, according to Ludtke"

2. According to the author, what percentage of teen mothers were unwed in 1997 compared to 1960"

3. What...