EARLY MARRIAGE A MENACE IN OUR SOCIETY
BY
UGBALI AUGUSTINE
Throughout the world, marriage is regarded as a moment of joy and celebration but the practice of early marriage gives no such cause for celebration. Early marriage refers to the marriage of the children aged below 18 years. Early marriage is often a forced marriage as it takes place without the consent of both the bride and bridegroom (Child marriage and Forced marriage). Although early marriages affect both the sexes but girls have been a major victim. Its practice has inflicted harmful effects on the parties involved and also the overall society.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CAUSES OF EARLY MARRIAGES
Poverty and Economic Transaction
Lack of education
Developing an alliance between two families
Lack of awareness of adverse health consequences
Value of virginity and protection of young girls
Cultural and Religious Norms
The notion of honour and morality is an important factor for the early marriages. It is often considered a shame for the family if the daughter is not a virgin before the marriage. So in order to ensure that the virtue of the girl remains intact, girls are often married earlier, to ensure virginity.
EFFECTS OF EARLY MARRIGE
Early marriage has been one of the main reasons for child labour, unemployment, low literacy rate and poor health standards. There are thousands of cases where girls have to give up their studies for their households that leave them with little ability to earn their own living. Similarly married boys have to give up their education in order to earn for their families
In case of early marriage, the risks of early pregnancy and childbirth are well documented: increased risk of dying, increased risk of premature labour, complications during delivery, low birth-weight, and a higher chance that the newborn will not survive. It can also lead to Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF)
Early marriages also have great psychological effects on the life of the girls:Inadequate socialization, discontinuation of education, great physiological and emotional damage due to repeated pregnancies devastates these girls. It is a huge responsibility for the girl to become wife and mother and because young girls are often not prepared for these roles, this heavy burden leaves a serious impact on their psychological welfare, their perceptions of themselves and also their relationship
Finally, these harmful effects caused by the practice of early marriages calls for attention of the policy makers, the government and relevant agency to come up with the laws discouraging early marriages.
Early marriages should be regarded as a violation of the Human Rights and the parties involved in this crime should be charged heavily. Furthermore, the government in each country should make efforts to eliminate poverty and provide education to its population which will result in the decrease in the child marriages.