My personal story
R: Yeah, I think maybe my mum was quite different but I assumed she was the norm. And for me and than to go out into the wild world and as I start meeting adults who weren't my mums friends and as I started to making friends who were older than me. The church had a lot of friends who were a bit older than me. It really surprised me. I assumed, I think growing up, I assumed all women were loud and extravert and a bit, you know, a bit fiery and quite strong and it really, I think growing up I really did get very surprised about how a lot of girls behaved. But at school, I think a lot of the girls who weren't allowed this were the ones who were deemed as easy and stuff like that. And I think a lot of the grils who came less... very working class families, had to assert themselves as well. I think we have that in common. That they were very loud, they were very rebellious, in lessons and they weren't interested in education and things. And they used to fight with boys and stuff sometimes. I think they REALLY had a thing about saving themselves. But then I think a lot of the ways that they have became equals with men was by engaging in kind of sexual activities with them. I mean, you know, a lot of girls whome I was at school with have already their first or second child now. And ...
I: And You're only 19?
R: Yes,
I: So a lot of teenage pregnancies.
R: Yeah, yeah and euh... that is very difficult. That is very difficult to begin to understand. I understand that mistakes happen; a lot of it was actually planned though. And not in long term relationships. I think it gave them an identity and a role. ... and I think it gave them a sense that they ...
I: Becoming a teenage mother you mean?
R: Yeah, I think it gave them a sense of ... of kind of a purpose. You know, if I came out - you know a lot of people come out of schools are like: bad TCSC's, who then kind of finish school and go home and stay at home doing nothing really. They lose purpose, they lose...
I: You mean they finished secondary school and that is it?
R: Yeah, and not with good qualifications either. I think maybe they lack a sense of purpose or direction. And I suppose one thing that a lot of women feel that they're naturally inclined to do is be mothers and for them that was a very easy way to give themselves a permanent occupation.
I: So it is easier to get pregnant than to get an education?
R: It is very, yeah... you know, but they are all living in their own flats and they are all... you know, the government has provided so much for them that actually... You know, if I get a degree, I still have to do years of internship and not get paid and things like that. Their income they probably get from the government, would be more than I will get from my first few years of being a post-graduate.
I: What is it that you are studying now?
R: International development. I enjoy it. It is good.
I: So, if you look back at your high school and the number of people that finished school, how many teenage pregnancies would there be in...
R: In my year... about 15 or 20.
I: Out of how many?
R: 200 kids.
I: That really is a lot!
R: Maybe more about 15, 15 out of 200. Yeah, yeah, and they are very.
I: That's like 7%, who go for that 'escape hatch'?
R: Yeah, because I think it was funny, like we, while, for the first couple of pregnancies there were, we all found it very shocking and it became very normal. But then you hear a story about a girl that gets pregnant at university and has to drop out and we think that is really shocking. If a girl is not at University we find it quite acceptable that she was pregnant and she might have baby's. I think you just expect for these things to... I think whether that's right or wrong, I think that might happen.
I: Okay thank you very much.
Gender did matter