Effects Of Child Marriage – Why Child Marriage Is A Form Of Abuse
Child marriages are not unheard of and they are a very common occurrence in third-world countries such as India, Indonesia, Cambodia and many others. Nearly 12 million girls are married off before the age of 18, each year and they face the effects of child marriage later on in life. As much as this may be part of the local culture and beliefs, child marriages are actually a form of abuse and can put these young children at risk physically, mentally and emotionally.
4 Reasons That Child Marriage Still Not Accept It In 2020
#1 They Face Health Risks
This is one of the most prominent effects of child marriage. Most young girls in such marriages end up contracting HIV/AIDS from their partner or during childbirth, as not many of them have access to a sterile birthing facility or a hospital. Aside from that, women younger than 18 years of age at childbirth would be more likely to face life-threatening complications and have a high chance of dying during childbirth. This is because their bodies are not fully developed or has matured enough to be able to carry a baby to full-term.
#2 They Are Denied Education
Most young women who have reached puberty would be made candidates for child marriage. As a result, their parents will halt their education in order to prepare them for marriage. Studies show that the literacy rate among people who are married off at ages below 18 are very low and they go on to work menial jobs to support themselves, but in most cases, are left at the mercy of their partner. They are unable to stand up for themselves ad have zero knowledge of the law and their basic human rights, so they continue to live an oppressed life.
#3 They Are Married Off For Financial Gains
Lots of girls who marry at a very young age come from fairly poor background, with a family that is pressed for money to keep surviving. The marriage is agreed upon based on a set amount of money that the family will receive upon the marriage of the girl. Although most girls would express their denial at such arrangements, they would be quietened by their parents, who use guilt to force them into marriage. One of the effects of such child marriages is that the girl feels like she is a martyr for the family and has to undergo the emotional and physical torture of being in a child marriage, for her family’s sake.
#4 They Are Subjected To Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is another by-product of child marriages. These young women are too young to protect themselves from being victims of domestic violence and as they have very little education, they would not be able to reach out to proper authorities or bodies that can help alleviate their situation. They are not only victims of violence from their partner, but also their partner’s family members. Aside from that, they would be subjected to heavy house chores, such as fetching heavy pails of water from wells and chopping wood. In the long-run, this would impact their health and reproductive abilities, which may become a catalyst for them being subjected to more domestic violence.
Children should be allowed to grow and learn at this stage of their life. Forcing them into a legally-binding commitment at such a young age can only be equated to ripping wings of a butterfly, which is both cruel and inhumane. Then effects of child marriage are real and we must do everything in our power to eradicate such dated practices.
Disclaimer:
The above is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legal advice or specific recommendations in any way.
