Gloria Malone
Gloria Malone is a fearless advocate, freelance writer, college student, and blogger at Teen Mom NYC.com where she writes about life as a teen mom and provides encouragement to other teen moms to beat societal stereotypes.
All Work
On ‘Girls Like Me’ and Queering YA Books: A Q&A With Author Nina Packebush
A former pregnant and parenting young person, Packebush spoke with Rewire.News about the influences on her debut young adult novel, including real-world hardships and the communities that sustain queer youth.
Six Books Written by Teen Mothers You Should Read This Mother’s Day
These books challenge readers to see young motherhood through a more honest and empowered light.
Far From ‘Tragic’: Author Jenna Vinson on the Misrepresentation of Young Mothers
"I hope my book—which brings attention to young mothers’ counter-stories and acts of resistance—makes feminist-oriented advocates and organizations think twice before circulating tragic tales of young motherhood."
Culture & Conversation Maternity and Birthing
Project Teenbirth and the Importance of Unconditional Support: A Q&A With Birth Advocate Melinda Morales
"Providing pregnant teens an environment free of prejudice and shame can unlock so much of their potential, allowing them to love themselves for who they are and not what society has depicted them to be."
#TitleIXAt43: How We Talk About the Landmark Anti-Discrimination Legislation
Title IX changed the course of history for many individuals when it comes to athletics and being able to partake in programs that discriminate against individuals based on sex. But when we talk about the landmark legislation, people still don't seem to understand what it truly means—and doesn't mean.
LGBTQ Youth Deserve ‘Real Education’ About Sexuality
The lack of LGBTQ-inclusive, comprehensive, and medically accurate sexual and reproductive health education is a public health concern that many lawmakers, educators, and doctors are letting slip through the cracks.
Celebrating Young Motherhood During Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
For many teenage mothers, May can be a challenging month to navigate.
Family Leave Laws Need to Include Teen Student Parents
Conversations about the need for more comprehensive maternity leave policies seem to rarely include solutions to the issues facing pregnant and parenting students, despite the fact that they are less likely to finish high school than their peers and are more likely to stay in poverty as they struggle to support their family.
A Vest That Moves People: A Q&A With Benita Ulisano of the Clinic Vest Project
As Benita Ulisano recently told Rewire, "Clinics are facing very difficult political and social pressures, but my job is simply to help them help others."
Where’s the ’16, Parenting, and OK’ Reality Show?
The media’s bad job of reporting on teenage pregnancy and parenting has real-life consequences and effects on teenage families, including depression and generational poverty. By removing these stereotypes, and changing to more positive story lines and outcomes, people in the media can make it easier on teens to create thriving families.
What Kara Walker’s ‘Sugar Baby’ Showed Us
The controversial photos that some visitors took at the exhibit are not only troublesome because they disrespect the art, but because the mocking and dehumanization of the Black female body has a long history in our society.
Commentary When It Comes to Teen Pregnancy, Support Is Prevention
When It Comes to Teen Pregnancy, Support Is Prevention
Groups that believe preventing teenage pregnancy is achievable through expensive public service campaigns fail to realize that they would do much better to support teen parents and their families.
‘16 and Pregnant’ May Work, But We Could Do So Much Better
Researchers and the general public may be unable to agree on teen pregnancy shows' contributions to society, but what we all can agree on is that these MTV shows present tired tropes about teen moms that are harmful for young girls.
Shame From All Angles: Why Doesn’t Anyone Seem to Respect Teen Parents?
A Nebraska judge recently ruled that a pregnant teen in foster care could not have the abortion she was seeking. Many people have pointed out the irony of her being too young to make decisions, but old enough to parent—but the issues at stake here go much deeper.
‘How Did You Become a Teen Mom?’
I never quite understand how to answer that question. My immediate response is usually, "Sex—unprotected sex, to be exact." However, the real answer is far more complex, and some individuals may see my reasons as "excuses" so I usually don't bother to explain it. But I will now.
Commentary My Right to Choose My Daughter Made Me the Confident Woman I Am Today
My Right to Choose My Daughter Made Me the Confident Woman I Am Today
In a strange turn of events and circumstance—being pregnant at 15—I found I suddenly had my life in my own hands. Finally people wanted to know what I wanted. Four days before my sixteenth birthday I became a teen mom, by my own choice.
I Was a Teen Mom and the NYC Teen Pregnancy Ads Miss the Point
The Bloomberg Administration and NYC's Human Resources Administration have launched a campaign whose purpose seems to be shaming and stigmatizing teen mothers. But politicians and older generations are the ones who should be ashamed for their failures to provide meaningful sexual health education or to address the social conditions that lead to teen pregnancy.
