BLACK TEENAGE MOTHERS AND THEIR MOTHERS - THE IMPACT OF ADOLESCENT CHILDBEARING ON DAUGHTERS RELATIONS WITH MOTHERS

The popular view assumes that Black families condone teenage motherhoo d. This study argues that this assumption is incorrect, finding instea d that teenage motherhood can produce long-term conflict both in famil y relations and structure. The 22 teenage mothers interviewed far this qualitative study believed that their mothers did not support them em otionally. Interviews with nine adult mothers' of the teenagers substa ntiated this belief: Their daughters' early motherhood threatened thei r deeply held moral values as well as their reputations in the communi ty. This study concludes that sociologists need to address these relat ional problems through linking these mothers' socioeconomic conditions with gender, class, and race inequalities.