The Implication of Early Marriage Towards Teenagers

The complex dynamics of marriage involve a man and a woman that have fallen in love with each other. In general, those that marry, do so between the ages of twenty and thirty years old. In comparison to the man or woman's relationships with their family members, a newly wedded couple's relationship is young. While they have both spent the first twenty years of their lives developing relationships with their brothers, sisters and parents, they might have only spent about three or four years developing a relationship with each other. This juxtaposition of relationship ages provides a strongly correlated example of the marital relationship that they will have with each other. Much research and consideration has been given to marriage and how the marriage dynamic continues to change. This brings about different types of hardships and conflicts. Ongoing research on this topic must be done to stay current with today’s society.

Over time, the American society has derailed from the traditional reason and forms of marriage and family set up. The American society acceptance of non-marital childbearing (single parenting), same- sex marriage has led to the trending poverty rate in average families. The main objective of the institution of marriage was meant to be between a man and a woman. Starting of a family should be a product of marriage. There is certainly a need for the American Society to embrace the old form of marriage and family setting as it is more beneficial to the upbringing of a child. This paper will focus on recent developments in marriage and family set up within the American society.

Girls all over the world are forced into marriages due to financial necessity, tradition and to ensure their future. Most of these girls married are at a young age: “One third of the world’s girls are married before the age of 18 and 1 in 9 are married before the age of 15”( “Child Marriage Facts and Figures”). The young ages of those being married reveal how crucial it is to resolve this problem. When child marriage occurs the parents of the bride usually chose the groom for their daughters; and these grooms can be three times older than the young brides. Some children are brought into the world of marriage at the of 8 or sometimes less depending on their cultural views. The following can be used to help reduce the impact of early

Traditionally, women in Nigeria marry young, although the average age at which they marry varies between states. A 2007 study revealed that 54 percent of girls from the North West aged between 15-24 were married by age 15, and 81 percent were married by age 1819. The study showed that the younger married girls lacked knowledge on reproductive health, which included HIV/AIDS. They also tend to lack the power and education needed to insist upon the use of a condom during sex. Coupled with the high probability that the husband will be significantly older than the girl and therefore is more likely to have had more sexual partners in the past, young women are more vulnerable to HIV infection within marriage.

Also, another event that could impact a woman’s life is arranged marriage and sometimes we think that they could never have a great life if they are arranged to marry someone they do not like. In some people’ biographies through the news, I heard that sometimes they have to marry at a young age as young as 14. During the marriage, we tend to think they have treated the men like they have the authority of what

A recent article from The Atlantic, “The Case for Getting Married Young”, discusses the right time to get married. The author, Karren Swallow Prior talks about advantages and disadvantages of delaying to married and the change of someone marriage's reason. Although studies cited by the author is correct, in real life this case actually depends on who decides to marry at an early age because no one can guarantee will succeed or will be failed.

Historically, the institution of marriage sets the context within which love, sex, and childbearing is legitimated. Previously, there was only one pathway to parenthood. All women and men were authorized to have kids soon after their marriage. The role of women’s body was naturally structured to childbearing. Women who fail to reproduce were strongly stigmatized in society. They were looked down upon their status

Many effects are sexual abuse, health issues, and domestic violence. The book Best Kept Secret- Sexual Abuse of Children is written by a psychiatric social worker, Florence Rush. Rush talks about the sexual abuse between a child and adult. With the adult being older and stronger, the child, once again, loses any choice in whatever decision she could even think about making. According to the Nawal M. Nour’s online article “Health Consequences of Child Marriage in Africa,” child marriage is driven by poverty and has many effects on girls' health: increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer, malaria, death during childbirth, and obstetric fistulas” (Nour, 2006). There is this misconceived, common belief that child marriage protects girls from promiscuity and, therefore, disease; the reality is quite opposite. Married girls are more likely than unmarried girls to become infected with STDs, in particular HIV and human papilloma virus (HPV), especially in the more poverty-stricken areas (Nour, 2006). Also, continuing, with

Based on the evidence presented, it can be inferred that the higher the age gap is, the more likely it is to result in divorce. Marriage is meant to be the lifelong union between two partners, but in today’s society, marriage is 31.4% of the time, a temporary union. A temporary union that ends in divorce. If the divorce rate increases or stays the way it is, then the future becomes heavily affected. One such implication of this continued divorce rate could be the decline in population due to decreased birth rates. However, another major implication is the negative physical and mental impact that a divorce can have on a child. A young child is very ignorant and oblivious of the world and their surroundings, but when its closest source of information and care are its parents, then how can the child be properly raised if its parents divorce? To stop this growing trend of divorce and to promote healthy marriage, people should marry other people who are within at least one year of their age and rarely ever more, lest the future will suffer because of the present day’s

The causes of child marriage often stem from tradition and gender norms within the community. However, child marriages can also be a result of severe poverty; the dowry, or “price of the bride,” may be needed for a family’s survival. Even security plays a role in the decision, as parents may believe their daughter will be safer in a marriage than unwed.

Girls not brides webpage reports that over 60% of child brides in developing countries have had no formal education. Non educated adults usually do not understand the value of education leading to decisions that affect the child and their fundamental rights. Generally, girls suffer of genre inequality which leads to the believe that they should not study and are more useful as wife. Girls with education are less likely to get married before the age of 18 years old because education allows them to develop their skills and make wise decisions. On the other hand, girls without access to education and sexuality education are more vulnerable to sexual transmitted diseases (STD) and pregnancies.

One of the best ways to stay safe is to wait until after marriage before being sexually active, this will also decrease the rate of disease. According to the Center of Disease Control in 2010 “about 65 % of STD’s contracted this year will occur in people under the age of 24”. Abstinence-Only Education focuses on the risks to avoid and help youth so that they would not be vulnerable to harm. The program teaches teenagers to wait before having sex until after marriage and remaining faithful afterward is the best choice for physical health and a healthy, happier relationship. Abstinence-Only Education educates us about the realities of STD’s and the best way to prevent them.

Appropriately, 1.7 billion people, about one-third of the world’s total population, are between the ages of 10 and 24, with the vast majority living in developing countries (Creel and Jerry, 2002: 1). As they mature, young women aged 15-24 years are increasingly exposed to reproductive health risks such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancy and childbirth (Creel and Jerry, 2002: 1). Moreover young women, especially adolescents, are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The risk is much higher when pregnancy is unintended while most pregnancies to young girls in sub-Saharan Africa are unintended or mistimed. In Ethiopia 28% of adolescents aged 15–19 and 24% of young women

Child brides are a little voiced problem that occur around the world. Fourteen million girls become child brides every year, a number that is increasing due to the growing populations of countries where child marriage is common (Fisher). I chose to focus on child brides specifically in Africa and the Middle East due to the high instances of child marriages in those parts of the world. In my research I also found that child brides are very common in South Asia and South America as well. In Niger, Chad, Mali, Bangladesh, Guinea, Central African Republic, Mozambique, and Nepal over half of girls are married before they turn eighteen (Fisher).This is largely due to traditional tribal practices, cultural norms, and an overall lack of education.

Cultural and socioeconomic factors that reinforce child marriage differ from region to region. Where one lives within a country may strongly influence whether or not she will marry early. In India the highest rates of child marriage is concentrated in five states: Madhya Pradesh at 73%, Andhra Pradesh at 71%, Rajasthan at 68%, Bihar at 67 % and Uttar Pradesh at 64%. The median age of marriage in India is 16.4 years according to the National Family Health Survey. [8]It also found that 65% of girls are married by the time they are 18. There are many reasons why child marriage occurs but they can be put into two general categories. The first one is based on social norms, customs and religion. Virginity in India is very important. If one is raped, it is hard for her to be married. “As Vatsayyana said a couple millennia ago that a virgin bride is important, even if people don’t talk about it openly”.[1] Therefore, the younger the bride the more likely it is that she’ll be a virgin and so marrying off the daughter as young as possible, the faster the end of the parent’s responsibility to keep her a virgin.