Opposing Views Of Child Marriages Across Different Countries

Child marriages are a constant problem in across many countries that are fueled by poverty, social and cultural norms. It is common practice in places like Niger, India and Pakistan. Child marriages are defined as children who are married off before the age of 18 and to someone who is considerably older. Girls are considered as a burden to the family, because it cost more to feed, clothe, and educate, therefore they are married off early (ICRW). Today about 60 millions girls are married as children and are robbed of their childhood (Nour).Although young boys are often involved in child marriages as well, the girls are the one who suffer the most because they are not physically, mentally or emotionally capable to withstand some of the experiences

There are many brides that are ages seven, ten and even fifteen that are forced to live a life they are not prepared for. Just imagine being that young and instead of playing with friends and going to school, you have to become someone’s caregiver. In a documentary about Child Brides, Hinojosa talked to twelve year old Mamta, was married at the age of seven. Although she does not live with her husband currently, she will eventually have to go once she hits puberty and take on the responsibilities of being a wife and mother. Mamta explains that she does not understand why she is got married and that she has no desire to see or live with the man she married (Child Brides). Many girls are like Mamta, they are too young to understand to essence of marriage and motherhood. It puts them at risk later of having physical and psychological distress. By allowing the girls to gain an education it can give them more awareness of what their rights are and how to move forward in their

During child marriage, it becomes an initiation of sexual activity that the young girls are not mentally or physically prepared for. While pregnancy is a major issue for young girls, they also often faced with a higher risk of HIV and AIDS because they are usually with men with more sexual experience (ICRW). In Kenya, married girls are 50% more likely to come into contact with sexually transmitted diseases or infections because they are trying to prove their fertility (Nour). Many of the men that marry these young girls have made multiple sex partners or polygamist, which is the practice of having more than one spouse. It also increases the risk of the child bride having cervical cancer. Niger is one of the many countries that have the highest rate of child marriages in the world. According to Girls Not Brides, every 3 out of 4 girls are married before their eighteenth birthday. Many of the husbands force their underage wives into sex and eventually early pregnancy. Maria Hinojosa’s documentary about child brides, she travelled to Niger and met with Dr. Abdoulaye and he explained how there are many complications that can happen when young girls are forced into early pregnancy. Hinojosa then met with Habi who was a child bride at thirteen and had a traumatic experience with early pregnancy. Habi explained how during her four days of labor she was in excruciating pain and when she finally gave birth, the baby