washingtonpost.com > Photo

Young, Latina and already a mom

Sisters Edelmira and Angela Marquez are teenage mothers, a particularly widespread occurrence among U.S.-born offspring of Hispanic immigrants.

Edelmira Marquez , 16, feeds her baby, Ashley, as her mother, Ana Ayala, holds her sister Angela's baby girl. Angela Marquez, 17, dropped out of high school when she had Kimberly. Ayala and the girls' father, Jose Marquez, tried to prevent the teens' pregnancies. But in the end, "a parent always forgives their child," Ayala says. "I've told my daughters they'll always have my support."

Edelmira Marquez , 16, feeds her baby, Ashley, as her mother, Ana Ayala, holds her sister Angela's baby girl. Angela Marquez, 17, dropped out of high school when she had Kimberly. Ayala and the girls' father, Jose Marquez, tried to prevent the teens' pregnancies. But in the end, "a parent always forgives their child," Ayala says. "I've told my daughters they'll always have my support."

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

Angela holds Kimberly. She and Edelmira gave their babies English names because, like many Latinos born in the United States, they are comfortable in their surroundings. And yet, the pair readily embrace Latino culture on TV, and in the men with whom they chose to have children. U.S.-born guys "are so -- I don't know, if they're not in a gang, they still don't take life seriously," Angela says. "They don't like to work. ... They just leave you pregnant and that's it."

Angela holds Kimberly. She and Edelmira gave their babies English names because, like many Latinos born in the United States, they are comfortable in their surroundings. And yet, the pair readily embrace Latino culture on TV, and in the men with whom they chose to have children. U.S.-born guys "are so -- I don't know, if they're not in a gang, they still don't take life seriously," Angela says. "They don't like to work. ... They just leave you pregnant and that's it."

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

Angela is no longer attending high school, so her day usually goes something like this: She wakes up early to make her boyfriend's breakfast and lunch and takes care of her baby. Angela also takes care of Edelmira's baby when her sister attends classes at at Montgomery Blair High School.

Angela is no longer attending high school, so her day usually goes something like this: She wakes up early to make her boyfriend's breakfast and lunch and takes care of her baby. Angela also takes care of Edelmira's baby when her sister attends classes at at Montgomery Blair High School.

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

Edelmira holds a doll as Angela takes a break from her children. Her friends play with their kids. Edelmira is a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School who wants to graduate, but she has already missed 13 days of class this year. "It's not that I don't want to go. I like school," Edelmira says. "It's just we wake up too early. Sometimes I wake up, take a shower, and once it's time to leave I'm like 'Nah, I'm just going to sleep.' "

Edelmira holds a doll as Angela takes a break from her children. Her friends play with their kids. Edelmira is a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School who wants to graduate, but she has already missed 13 days of class this year. "It's not that I don't want to go. I like school," Edelmira says. "It's just we wake up too early. Sometimes I wake up, take a shower, and once it's time to leave I'm like 'Nah, I'm just going to sleep.' "

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

Angela holds Kimberly as Edelmira cooks with Ashley at her feet. Nearly one-in-four Latinas born in the United States to immigrant parents has a child before age 20. Only immigrant Latinas have a higher teen pregnancy rate in this country.

Angela holds Kimberly as Edelmira cooks with Ashley at her feet. Nearly one-in-four Latinas born in the United States to immigrant parents has a child before age 20. Only immigrant Latinas have a higher teen pregnancy rate in this country.

Carol Guzy-The /Washington Post

Angela holds her daughter, Kimberly, with some help from Edelmira. The sisters have to help each other raise their children: Angela's boyfriend Franklin is a bricklayer who lives in Ana Ayala's house, but works long, hard hours; while Edelmira's boyfriend Roberto is serving an 18-month prison sentence for burglary.

Angela holds her daughter, Kimberly, with some help from Edelmira. The sisters have to help each other raise their children: Angela's boyfriend Franklin is a bricklayer who lives in Ana Ayala's house, but works long, hard hours; while Edelmira's boyfriend Roberto is serving an 18-month prison sentence for burglary.

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

Ashley plays with a doll. The Marquez sisters were determined to get pregnant after their parents sent them to El Salvador when they found out about Franklin and Roberto. Teenage motherhood has impacted their lives significantly.

Ashley plays with a doll. The Marquez sisters were determined to get pregnant after their parents sent them to El Salvador when they found out about Franklin and Roberto. Teenage motherhood has impacted their lives significantly.

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

A mix of cultures marks the wall in a bedroom of Ana Ayala's home: A few Disney princesses represent American fairy tales, while a miniature Honduran flag honors the homeland of Franklin, Angela's boyfriend and Kimberly's father. Franklin lives in the house with his family, where Ayala charges him $450 per month in rent. It's a sacrifice for Ayala, who shares a room with Edelmira and Ashley.

A mix of cultures marks the wall in a bedroom of Ana Ayala's home: A few Disney princesses represent American fairy tales, while a miniature Honduran flag honors the homeland of Franklin, Angela's boyfriend and Kimberly's father. Franklin lives in the house with his family, where Ayala charges him $450 per month in rent. It's a sacrifice for Ayala, who shares a room with Edelmira and Ashley.

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

Hope lies in the tiniest shoes. While teen parenthood and a lack of education remain an extra hurdle for second-generation Latinas, studies suggest third-generation Latinas could fare better than their mothers and grandmothers.

Hope lies in the tiniest shoes. While teen parenthood and a lack of education remain an extra hurdle for second-generation Latinas, studies suggest third-generation Latinas could fare better than their mothers and grandmothers.

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

Edelmira, with Ashley, worries about what will happen when Roberto gets out of prison. But she also has dreams of having enough money to move back to El Salvador to open a tienda, or perhaps, to work at the airport. In the meantime, she has to focus on raising her baby. "You lose so many privileges when you have a baby," Edelmira says. "You can't go out. Everywhere you go, you have to take her."

Edelmira, with Ashley, worries about what will happen when Roberto gets out of prison. But she also has dreams of having enough money to move back to El Salvador to open a tienda, or perhaps, to work at the airport. In the meantime, she has to focus on raising her baby. "You lose so many privileges when you have a baby," Edelmira says. "You can't go out. Everywhere you go, you have to take her."

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

Gallery Credits:

Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content.

This Story Profiles in Success Left Behind: Getting to college: Making higher education a part of more futures Second generation immigrants: Finding a path to college Full coverage: Left Behind : Why did teen sisters seek to become pregnant? Ties to parents' homeland hold strong LEFT BEHIND: THE TRIALS OF TEEN MOTHERS: Living with their choices Young, Latina and already a mom Left behind: A child's burden: An undesirable inheritance Left behind: a dropout's difficulties: Struggles of the second generation A second generation's struggles U.S.-born children of Hispanic immigrants Latinos' economic footprint Raised with added hardships Education Attained Hispanics and sexual activity A second-generation Latino aims for a better life for his family Your Take: In search of fewer Latina teen moms Special Report: The Immigration Debate		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
» This Story:Read +\|Watch +\|Talk +\| Comments

© 2009 www.washingtonpost.com