This book examines how early parenthood differs historically, cross-nationally (in Korea and Sweden), and by class, race, and age in the United States. Contributors discuss how consequential is early parenthood for the future social and economic well-being of parents and children, whether postponing childbearing beyond the teenage years would substantially improve infant survival rates, and the realities of early parenthood compared to the stereotypes. The following chapters are provided: (1) "Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenthood" (Beatrix A. Hamburg and Sandra Lee Dixon); (2) "Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Child Rearing: Developmental Perspectives" (Anne C. Petersen and Lisa J. Crockett); (3) "Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenthood in the Transition to Adulthood" (Andrew M. Boxer); (4) "Early Childbearing Patterns among African Americans: A Socio-Historical Perspective" (Donna L. Franklin); (5) "The Social Context of Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting in the Black Community: Implications for Public Policy" (Jewelle Taylor Gibbs); (6) "Racial and Ethnic Variation in the Early Life Course of Adolescent Welfare Mothers" (Mark F. Testa); (7) "The Next Generation: The Children of Teenage Mothers Grow Up" (Frank F. Furstenberg, Jr., Mary Elizabeth Hughes, and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn); (8) "Historical Perspectives on Adolescent Pregnancy" (Maris A. Vinovskis); (9) "The Jurisprudence of Teenage Pregnancy" (Franklin E. Zimring); (10) "Teen Pregnancy and the Dilemmas of Social Policymaking" (Evelyn Z. Brodkin); (11) "Teenage Pregnancy and Premarital Childbirth in Korea: Issues and Concerns" (Kyu-taik Sung); (12) "Early Phases of Family Formation in Contemporary Sweden" (Britta Hoem); and (13) "Teenage Parenthood: Policies and Perspectives" (Margaret K. Rosenheim). (Contains 4 figures, 12 tables, and over 400 references.) (GLR)