Explain how power relations can lead to teenage pregnancy

On this page, we help students to answer the following question: “Explain how power relations can lead to teenage pregnancy.” This is for Life Orientation Grade 12 Term 1 Source-Based Task 2026.

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Quick Answer

How Power Relations Lead to Pregnancy:

• Lack of Agency: An imbalance of power means one partner (often the female) cannot negotiate safe sex or abstinence.
• Coercion and Pressure: Partners in a “higher” power position may usepeer pressureor emotional manipulation.
• Financial Dependence:Differences in financial valuescan lead to “transactional” relationships where protection is ignored.
• Outcome: An increased risk ofdetrimental relationshipsand unplanned pregnancy.

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Power Relations and Teenage Pregnancy

In the South African Life Orientation curriculum, power relations refer to the ability of one person to influence or control the actions of another within a relationship. When these relations are unequal or abusive, they become a primary driver of teenage pregnancy.

1. Inequality in Decision-Making

In many relationships, gender stereotypes or age gaps create a “power gap.”

• A partner with more “power” may dominate decisions regarding sexual activity.
• The submissive partner often lacks the assertive communication skills to insist on the use of contraceptives.
• This lack of equality makes it difficult to resolve interpersonal conflicts regarding sexual health, leading to high-risk situations.

2. Peer Pressure and Social Influences

Social influences play a massive role in how teenagers perceive power.

• A teenager may feel pressured by their peer group to prove their “maturity” or “loyalty” to a partner.
• This external peer pressure creates intrapersonal conflict, where the learner acts against their own values to avoid social rejection.
• When a partner uses the threat of a breakup as a power tool, it results in a detrimental relationship where the risk of pregnancy increases.

3. Financial Power and Transactional Sex

Financial decisions and economic status often dictate power in South African youth relationships.

• A learner struggling for financial independence might enter a relationship with an older partner for financial support.
• In these “sugar daddy” or “blesser” dynamics, the person providing the money holds all the power, often refusing to use protection.
• This violation of human rights and safety is a direct consequence of systemic gender inequality.

4. Impact on Future Growth and Change

Teenage pregnancy often forces a sudden transition from learner to parent.

• This shift can cause excessive stress and derail academic goals, making it hard to meet admission requirements for later studies.
• Understanding power relations is essential for matriculants to protect their quality of life and ensure a healthy transition to post-school destinations.

Reference for Students:

• Subject: Life Orientation Grade 12
• Textbook: Focus Life Orientation Grade 12
• Chapter: Chapter 4: Relationships and Communication
• Topic: Power relations and sexual health.