Curricular Resources > 1983 Volume VI > Unit 4 (83.06.04) > Section 6

Cross-Cultural Variation in Children and Families

Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood: The Young Mother in the Puerto Rican Family

Kathleen London

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Lesson II Young Parents and Role Conflicts

Objective To demonstrate the role conflicts young parents experience.

Time One class period

Materials Copy of Role Chart for each student

Procedure Begin the class by eliciting a definition of the term, ROLE . You may ask them to think about their various roles (in school, a student; in a peer group, a leader; at home, a son or daughter, sibling, grandchild.) Explain that everybody has many roles in live and that sometimes there are conflicts between these roles. For instance, there may be a problem or conflict when you are trying to do your homework and a parent expects you to watch a younger brother or sister.
Direct questions and comments to help students fill in the role chart on the board and on their papers, first for the teenage girl-young woman, then for the teenage boy-young man.

Encourage students to be honest about the roles of Puerto Rican teenagers. Students may need to define roles in terms of the activities in which a young person is engaged—ie. are most school age Puerto Rican males in school? employed? ‘hanging out’ in a store or on a corner or at home?

Sample:

Roles of a Teenage Girl-Young woman	Roles of a Mother
	student	athlete	caregiver
	daughter	sister	nurturer
	friend	p/t employee	protector
	volunteer		teacher
			nurse/doctor at home
Roles of a Teenage Boy-Young man	Roles of a Father
	student	musician	financial provider
	son	athlete	employee
	boyfriend		protector
			head of household
			companion
			husband

Once students have completed the chart, ask them to consider possible conflicts between the roles. As students identify conflicts, draw lines connecting the roles. Is there a conflict for a young man trying to be a student and the financial provider? Explain and discuss each conflict.

Lesson II: follow up activity—Conflict Resolution

You may wish to extend this lesson for an additional class period. Using notes from the board and student worksheets, list the major conflicts for the teenage mother and the teenage father on the board. Explain to students that where there is a conflict, there must be a resolution, outcome or effect. If a boy is frustrated trying to find part time work to support his child and trying to stay in school, how does he feel? What are the possible behaviors we can expect?

Example: Teenage Father

	Conflict
	Student and financial provider	drop out of school
	Resolution
	ignore financial responsibility
	escape (drugs, alcohol)
	act like he doesn’t care

Note: The discussion of the roles of a mother and father should focus on where individuals develop their ideas about these roles—from television, magazines and other media (esp. advertising!), school. (figure available in print form)

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