The problem of teen pregnancy continues to be prevalent regardless of efforts on the part of educational institutions, parents and social agencies. Teen fathers face a special set of problems including understanding their rights and being responsible for their duties.
Rights of the Teen Father
First and foremost, teenage boys who have learned of a pregnancy have every right to question if the child is actually their child. Whether they go by blood samples or up the effort to the expense of DNA matching, the question of legitimacy of the father needs to be established.
Teenage boys also have right to confirm the pregnancy actually exists. While it is an extremely sensitive issue during a very emotionally turbulent time, boys need to know the pregnancy is valid. However upsetting this may be for everyone involved, girls have been known to manipulate teenagers into sex and then claim pregnancy. Although rare, it does happen especially when the teenage girl's family values are unclear or a lack of communication exists, according to Jay Silverman.
Jay Silverman in "Social Norms and Beliefs Regarding Sexual Risk and Pregnancy Involvement among Adolescent Males Treated for Dating Violence Perpetration" [Journal of Urban Health, 2006] suggests once a girl claims pregnancy, boys do immediately consider a duty of marriage.
In addition to verifying the pregnancy and the paternity of the father, teenage fathers have the same parental rights to the child after birth occurs. These include visitation and custody.
Another emerging interest is the father's parents asserting grandparent visitation rights. Would-be grandparents, both maternal and paternal, share the same rights.
Teenager Fathers Duties
According to the Silverman study, the duties of fatherhood are rarely considered before initiating sexual activity. Perhaps the first set of duties actually lie with the parents of the teenage father to bring his attention to possibility of pregnancy and the responsibility that come with a pregnancy.
The only way a teenage father can separate himself from the duties and responsibilities of an impending child is to work together with the mother to order adoption, or separate himself from the child completely by resigning all rights to the child. Courts may or may not allow this and laws vary from state to state. Regardless of location though, bar adoption, the teenager father will have certain duties.
Young fathers, whether they marry the mother or not, are financially responsible for the child's costs through pregnancy, delivery and childhood, just as the mother is. However, financial demands do not end at birth but will continue for 18 years.
Although not legally obligated to do so in many states as of this date, teen fathers are also responsible for sharing parenting duties and contributing to the rearing of the child socially. Fathers should be encouraged to take an active role in the parenting of their children. More and more studies are showing the positive effect of actively involved fathers in children's lives.
Resources for teenage fathers can be found online such as sites as Father's Rights. Parenting classes and support should also be sought out for the teenage father. Possible resources include Planned Parenthood, online support groups and Houses of Faith.
The rights and duties of a teenage father are a real consequence of teenagers engaging in sexual activities. This fact should be included in discussions of sexuality. Once a pregnancy is announced, a father has a right to verify the validity and paternity of the child. Once facts are established, the teenage father should be prepared to assume his share of rights and responsibilities related to the child, regardless of the status of the relationship between the parents.
