The Risks of Early Marriage

Early marriage deprives girls of their lives and comfort, and has a significant impact on their educational and professional future. In previous years, early marriage was widespread.

However, with the increasing interaction between cultures, awareness of the dangers of early marriage has risen noticeably in recent times.

What is early marriage?

It is a union between two people, one or both of whom are teenagers or minors, typically between the ages of 13 and 18.

Such marriages can occur for a variety of reasons, including love, family pressure, and various economic hardships.

What are the causes of early marriage?

There are several reasons, any of which may contribute to early marriage, as experts have noted:

Poverty:

Poverty drives parents to take unhealthy steps, such as marrying off their daughters at a young age in hopes of improving their family's financial situation or easing their economic burdens.

Customs and traditions:

Customs and traditions have a strong influence in many societies, leading to higher rates of early marriage among young people as a way to prove manhood.

Blind imitation among youth:

Many young men and women try to imitate celebrities they follow on social media, especially in matters of romance. For example, some men search online for Moroccan women to marry, simply imitating others, and this applies to women across the Arab world.

What are the risks of early marriage?

There are a number of risks and negative effects associated with early marriage for girls. The most prominent include:

1. Early marriage can affect a woman's education, as girls often leave school when they marry during their studies.
2. Early marriage can negatively impact a girl's mental health. Many studies have shown that those who marry young have higher rates of mental and psychological illnesses than those who marry at an ideal age.
3. The new generation born from child marriages may be raised in an unhealthy environment.
4. Negative effects on the reproductive health of young people.
5. Early marriage generally ends a girl's childhood.
6. Early marriage increases the victim's exposure to domestic violence.
7. Girls who become pregnant at a young age may face life-threatening risks.
8. The formation of unhealthy family relationships.

How can the phenomenon of early marriage be reduced?

Experts mention several strategies that can be followed to reduce early marriage, the most important of which are:

Changing prevailing behaviors in society:

Awareness and educational campaigns can be organized for families and community members about the dangers associated with marrying off children, both girls and boys.

Expanding grassroots efforts:

Governments must enact laws to limit early marriage, and program creators can develop awareness initiatives to clarify the consequences of marrying minors.

Providing educational opportunities for girls helps reduce early marriage:

Completing their education is one of the main challenges girls face, especially in environments lacking awareness of the importance of education.

Protecting girls' rights:

In addition to the above, it is important to invest in girls' abilities, support them, and encourage their dreams in order to raise their awareness and protect them from falling into the trap of child marriage.

Encouraging girls who are victims to complete their education:

One of the most important ways to address early marriage is to give girls who married young the opportunity to complete their education, which can bring about the necessary change in society and raise awareness.

In conclusion, as discussed in this article, child marriage can have long-term effects not only on girls, but also on families and society as a whole.