The LA Times summarizes the report by saying "Young Latinos seem to face a tougher future - Those between the ages of 16 and 25 are more likely than other young people to have a child before 19, drop out of school and live in poverty, a study finds."

One of the major challenges facing young Latinas is the issue of teen pregnancy. The study is clear about the scope of the problem:

Hispanics start having children at much younger ages than non-Hispanics. More than one-fourth (26%) of Hispanic females are mothers by the time they reach age 19, compared with 22% of blacks, 11% of whites and 6% of Asians. Among Hispanics, teen parenthood is most widespread in the immigrant generation. Some 26% of foreign-born females ages 18 and 19 have children, compared with 16% of the same age cohort of second-generation Hispanic females and 21% of third- generation Hispanic females.

Not only do Latinos have children at younger ages than non-Latinos, they also marry at younger ages. Some 15% of Latinos ages 16 to 25 are married, compared with 9% of non-Latinos in that age group. The higher marriage rate for Latinos is driven primarily by immigrant youths, 22% of whom are married. Marriage rates among native-born Latinos-10% for the second generation and 11% for the third generation-don't differ markedly from the rate for non-Latinos.

Despite their relatively high rate of teen parenthood, most Latino youths do not look favorably upon having children prior to age 20. Three-fourths (75%) say that the prevalence of teens having babies is not good for society, an opinion shared by 90% of the overall youth population in the U.S.
Nearly seven-in-ten Latino youths (69%) say that teen parenthood hinders the ability to achieve one's life goals. However, Latino youths are more inclined than other youths to favor parenthood at a relatively young age. Latinos say that the ideal age for a woman to have a child is 24, and for a man it is 25. Among all youths, these figures are 26 for a woman and 28 for a man.

Among young Latinos, there is only a small difference in the likelihood of having had sexual intercourse prior to age 20 by nativity. Nor does the likelihood of having engaged in teen sex differ between Latino youths and their older counterparts. However, Latino youths are far more likely than older Latinos to report that they engaged in sex prior to the age of 16.

When it comes to attitudes about teen sex (as distinct from behaviors), once again there are no significant differences by generation among young Latinos, but there are differences between younger and older Latinos. Latino youths are more tolerant of teen sex within a serious relationship or of teen sex that involves using protection; Latinos older than 25 are markedly less accepting of teen sexual activity no matter what the context.

So what is causing this gap? One of the things that always frustrates me reading through reports about the issues facing teenagers, minorities, women, or any combination of those is the lack of specifics as well as the divorcing of certain issues from larger societal influences. Pew goes beyond most other projects by looking at attitudes about teen sex, and having a child early. But if most of these youths understand how difficult it is to have a child and still work toward their own personal goals, and many understand the need to use protection, what is causing the disconnect?

Are there correlations between the geographic area and pregnancy rates? Are many of these girls growing up in areas where they cannot access contraception? Are they being subjected to abstinence only education? Does religion play a role in this? What are they telling these boys? Are these even boys, or is there a disparity between the age of the mother and the age of the father? Is it peer pressure? Is there not enough mentoring and outreach? What is it?

And more complicated is the rhythm of these types of problems:

The picture becomes even more murky when comparisons are made among youths who are first generation (immigrants themselves), second generation (U.S.-born children of immigrants) and third and higher generation (U.S.-born grandchildren or more far-removed descendants of immigrants).[1]

For example, teen parenthood rates and high school drop-out rates are much lower among the second generation than the first, but they appear higher among the third generation than the second. The same is true for poverty rates.

It is good to identify problems - it's the first step toward finding a solution. However, I hope that this issue receives more attention.

These children (and teens) are literally our future.

Young Latinos seem to face a tougher future [LA Times]
Between Two Worlds: How Young Latinos Come of Age in America [Pew Hispanic Center]

The Times notes that only 26 percent of Latinos favor John McCain at the moment, a sharp decline from the 44 percent who voted for Bush in 2004. This is despite some racism among Latinos towards African-Americans, as picked up by the Washington Post:

Geronimo Cruz, a retired factory worker living in Mora County, worries aloud that "blacks are for blacks," and that in the White House, Obama would care for his racial brethren in the inner cities before looking out for the white and Hispanic rural lands. He cites hip-hop videos as proof that confident, aloof African Americans are more interested in a good time than hard work.

He, like many others, refers to Obama as "El Negrito," a diminutive that can be affectionate when referring to one's grandfather, as in "abuelito," or condescending when referring to the potential President of the United States.

The Post, by the way, calls describes those comments as indicative of "subtle racial concerns." I guess compared to "Traitor" and "Kill him!," maybe they are!

So what's the problem with McCain for Latinos, who, as Laura Ramírez Drain tells the Washington Post, used to kind of dig Republicans? Janet Murguía, executive director of the National Council of La Raza has an answer:

"The Republican brand has been tarnished as result of the immigration debate and the extreme rhetoric that came out of that debate. We think McCain remains an advocate of a comprehensive approach, but his standing has been undermined by those within his own party and the tough immigration plank in the 2008 Republican platform."

Many Latinas agree, while others cite the need for health care reform and the poor economy as reasons they are backing Barack Obama this time. In fact, the Latinas who are supporting McCain tend to gloss over those issues and instead talk about how the need to criminalize abortion and eliminate same sex marriage are reasons to back him (in addition to the fact that some of them really like Sarah Palin). The WaPo:

Why McCain? The Latinas for McCain cite moral values. He is antiabortion and for "the sanctity of marriage."

A couple of small businesswomen also parrot McCain's line that Obama's tax plan will kill their businesses. Roxana Cazares Olivas, a small businesswoman herself, former Bush backer and a founder of Latinas Unidas por Obama sees plenty of reasons to back Obama:

"Immigration, the war, the economy, Katrina," she says. "We just need a change. . . . He not only captured me in his actions but also captured my heart." She doubts McCain's continued commitment to immigration reform, and says she has never forgotten Obama addressing a huge march for immigrant rights in Chicago in 2006....
Values matter, too. Sanctity of marriage? Olivas asks which candidate left his first wife and broke up his family. Abortion is tough. She balances it with immigration reform, which she sees as a moral issue, as well. "Yes, we're not for abortion, but immigration is a deal-breaker," she says.

It is a little funny, actually, that the campaign that accused Democrats of holding women hostage on abortion earlier this year is benefiting in some small way from women tied to the abortion issue — and that Latina women like Olivas, who opposes it, are choosing the Democratic candidate despite it.

Photo: Barack Obama Speaks At The La Raza Conference
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 13: L, Isabel and Francisco Flores wait outside before hearing Presumptive Demcoratic presidential nominee Barack Obama at the National Council of La Raza Annual Meeting on July 13, 2008 in San Diego, California. The NCLR is the largest Hispanic Civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States and works to opportunities for Hispanic Americans.(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

McCain Is Faltering Among Hispanic Voters [New York Times]
Will Race Deter the Hillary Hispanics? [Washington Post]
Democrats or Republicans, Latinas Are Swaying the Vote [Washington Post]

Earlier: Hey Carly Fiorina, Who Exactly Is Holding My Uterus Hostage?