The government, however, cannot mandate healthy family communication where it does not already exist. Indeed, one study found that more than half of all young women who did not involve a parent in her decision regarding a pregnancy did involve an adult, including 15 percent who involved a step-parent or adult relative. Trusted and responsible adults would be faced with the threat of prosecution if they responded to a request for help from a young woman who believes she cannot involve her parent. This would isolate these minors, leaving them without adult assistance, supervision, or guidance. Rather than making abortion more difficult and dangerous for young women, Congress should do more to create the conditions that enable young women to make true choices by providing comprehensive sexuality education and ensuring that women have access to a range of effective contraceptives.
Most young women find love, support, and safety in their homes.
Many, however, justifiably fear that they would be physically or emotionally abused if forced to disclose their pregnancy. Often young women who do not involve a parent come from families in which government-mandated disclosure could have devastating effects. 4 Approximately 3.2 million cases of child abuse were reported in 1997. Young women considering abortion are particularly vulnerable because family violence often is at its worst during a family member's pregnancy. In addition to fear of violence, some minors do not involve a parent because they believe that the knowledge would damage their relationship with the parent, they fear that it would escalate conflict or coercion, or they want to protect a vulnerable parent from stress and disappointment.