This youtube video discusses the presence of child marriage or child bride throughout the world. Child marriage is defined as a formal marriage or informal union before the age of 18. The video talks about the unimaginable statistics of child marriage. Around 700 million women around the world are married as a children. About 1 of 3 of those are married before the age of 17. Many countries such as India, Niger, Bangladesh are prevalent with child marriage practices despite laws against it.
The practice of child marriage has been burgeoning due to the ever increase of poverty, cultural traditions, gender inequality, and beneficial security for child brides. Despite all of the reasons behind the practice, the negative effects of child marriage is in its severity that even basic human rights is being suppressed to an extent. Abuse and violence is also common in the practice especially when a child is young and uneducated. Risk of death and complications is also high for early pregnancy.
There are ways that can be done to prevent or intervene with child marriages as mentioned by the video. But such thing is no easy task. Educating girls is a step that can enhance a child’s understanding of their surroundings. Empowerment gives them the knowledge and capabilities to stand up for themselves and those around them. Economic support is another way to intervene with marriages because poverty is one the primary causes of child marriages.
References
Age 10 and Divorced: Nujood Ali and the Fight Against Child Brides in Yemen. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from https://tavaana.org/en/content/age-10-and-divorced-nujood-ali-and-fight-against-child-brides-yemen
Al-Eryani, H. Nada escapes child marriage. Retrieved November 18, 2015, from https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/ reportsfeatures/a-narrow-escape
Amber, J. (2008). Child Brides. Essence, 39(7), 144–185.
Arnoldy, B. (2009). India listens after a child bride says “I won”t’. Christian Science Monitor, 5.
Child marriage. Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://www.unfpa.org/child-marriage
Child marriage. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_58008.html
Child Marriage: What We Know. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/341/facts.html
MEMRITVVideos. 11-Year-Old Yemeni Girl Nada Al-Ahdal Flees Home to Avoid Forced Marriage: I’d Rather Kill Myself. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J7_TKgw1To
Newman, D. (2012). Identities and Inequalities (2nd ED.) New Your: McGraw-Hill.
Olson, C. 16 Ways of Preventing and Intervening in Child Marriages | The Pixel Project’s “16 For 16” Campaign. Retrieved from http://16days.thepixelproject.net/16-ways-of-preventing-and-intervening-in-child-marriages/
Ore, T. (2011). The Social Construction of Difference and Inequality: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality (5th. Ed.) Dubuque: McGraw-Hill
The Impact of Early Marriage: Domestic Violence and Sexuality. Retrieved from http://www.breakthrough.tv/ earlymarriage/2013/08/impact-early-marriage-domestic-violence-sexuality/
What is the impact?. Retrieved from http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/what-is-the-impact/
Why does child marriage happen?. Retrieved from http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/why-does-it-happen/
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