Black women who experienced pregnancy as teens

This is a qualitative study that explores the lived experiences of Black women who were pregnant teens. I specifically examined how the women described their interactions with school-based personnel and how the concept of controlling images of Black women (Collins, 2000) could contextualize their experiences. I interviewed three Black women and analyzed their narratives within the Black feminist thought conceptual framework. I utilized two analytical techniques to organize and present the findings: thematic analysis and research poetics. These analytical techniques allowed me to uncover deeper meaning in the participants' words and phrases. Findings from this study highlight how school-based personnel can better support pregnant teens and how the concept of controlling images can assist in contextualizing the lived experiences of Black women.