Image credit: UN Women
Children under the age of 18 aren't allowed to drink, vote, or get tattoos. In the United States, however, it is legal for them to get married. How does that make sense? Child marriage is legal in majority of the U.S., and it should be abolished.
Most people against child marriage consider it a form of forced marriage. Child marriage is defined as "any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child." Child marriage is defined as "any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child." The majority of children married are girls. Between the years 2000 - 2018, nearly 300,000 minors were wedded. In most cases, these kids are married to a much older adult. Currently, there is no federal law banning child marriages. Now, how many states have outright banned child marriage? Only six. Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and New York. Six out of the 50 states have made it illegal to marry if under the age of 18.
What are the problems with child marriage, aside from the moral outrage we all feel? For starters, there's the impact on mental health from child marriages for the victims. Most victims struggle with low self-esteem and PTSD. Child brides/grooms have less rights and resources to get out of their situation. Unicef shared that girls who are forced to marry before the age of 18 are more likely to experience domestic violence. The imbalance of power, large age-gap, and lack of education, many child brides are likely to be abused or violated. Because domestic violence shelters are geared towards women, girls are unable to seek refuge. There are limited resources for divorce in child marriages, nor are they able to get an order of protection. Victims of child marriage aren't allowed to escape.
Additionally, many girls married young usually drop out (or are forced to drop out) of school. "They have worse economic and health outcomes than their unmarried peers, which are eventually passed down to their own children, further straining a country’s capacity to provide quality health and education services." Let's not forget the sexual abuse that can arise from these marriages. When an adult "has sex" with a minor, this is declared as statutory rape and that adult is charged as a sex offender. When that child just so happens to be that adult's marital partner, the law changes.
So what can be done? Continuously being aware of this crime, for starters. I was shocked to learn that child marriage is legal in majority of this country. Some states do require that you have to be a certain age to be married, but there must be parental consent. This simply means you, as a marital clerk, could see a young girl bawling her eyes out begging not to be married, and you have no authority to go against the family's wishes. Parental consent shouldn't be an option. If they're under the age of 18, it should be illegal. No other way around it. If we cannot protect our children, then the discussion for human rights is irrelevant. Child marriage should be abolished in the United States. we cannot protect our children, then the discussion for human rights is irrelevant. Child marriage should be abolished in the United States.
The existence of child marriage is an atrocity. The fact it is legal in majority of the United States is even more appalling. Child marriage is a crime in and of itself, yet not often discussed. The same way I have discussed that a child cannot consent to performing in pornography or prostitution, it applies here. A child does not consent to marriage; this is a form of forced marriage. (Credit to the original creator)
Child marriage is defined as "any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child," according to UNICEF. How often does child marriage occur? You would think it's a rare occurrence, but sadly, it's not. CBS News shared that between 2000 - 2015, more than 200,000 minors were married in the United States, majority being young girls married to an older man. The only states that have strict laws that do not allow child marriage in any case are the following: Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. These laws require that someone can only marry if they are of the age of 18 or older, no exceptions. Most states think this is government overreach and aren't on-board with banning the practice of child marriage.
To put things into perspective, let's look at the most extreme cases of child marriage that happened in the United States, according to World Population Review. - In 2010 in Idaho, a 65-year-old man married a 17-year-old girl
- In Alabama, a 74-year-old man married a 14-year-old girl
- In Tennessee, three 10-year-old girls married men ages 24, 25, and 31, respectively.
- The youngest boy to marry was an 11-year-old who married a 27-year-old woman in Tennessee in 2006.
Why isn't this issue discussed enough? The idea that a young girl could marry an older man is disgusting. This is not a marriage. This is a forced marriage and possible human trafficking situation, where one party has more power and authority over the other. For the victim, it robs them of their rights as a human being. Girls who are married before the age of 18 are more likely to drop out of school, never to receive a proper education. Many are likely to experience sexual or domestic abuse. Now, I'm sure there are some who would think that if that child is old enough (i.e. 16 years old), they could have the common sense to leave or runaway, even file for divorce. Unfortunately, any legal options for a minor is limited. The child of the marriage isn't allowed to try to file for divorce, nor can they run away due to strict laws that prohibit children from running away.
This is not an issue that happens overseas. The United States is currently allowing the marriage between a child and a grown man/woman. What can be done to fight this issue? There are two paths you can take, either one or both. First, start talking about it. This issue is widely ignored because it's uncomfortable. That's why this issue still exists. By making this a conversation, you make people aware this is an issue we must fight. Second, contact your lawmakers and representatives. The people we elect are supposed to fight for what we want, and we want children to not be allowed to be married. It hurts our most vulnerable. This article is not meant to shame anyone who was part of a child marriage or the product of that marriage. It's to bring awareness to a travesty that is allowed in our great nation. Stand up and join me in this fight. Child marriage cannot be allowed to continue in this country.
