child marriage
Youth forced wedlock
Child marriage is a marriage or informal union in which one or both parties are under 18.
It occurs across cultures and throughout history, though it disproportionately affects girls and is now widely condemned as a human rights violation.
The practice often stems from poverty, gender inequality, and traditional customs.
International organizations and many governments are working to end child marriage, though it remains legal or loosely regulated in some jurisdictions.
Authoritative legal ban
- criminalizationMaking conduct unlawful
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- penaltiesPunishments for infractions
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
legislation · age of consent · statutory rape · prosecution · minimum age · legal reform · annulment · registration
Selfish use of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- health risksPotential causes of illness
maternal mortality · dropout · isolation · domestic violence · powerlessness · dependency · psychological impact · pregnancy complications
Marital property transfer
- bride priceGroom's payment to in-laws
- betrothalFormal marriage agreement
- matchmakingArranging romantic connections
- family honorCollective reputation of relatives
patriarchy · ceremony · ritual · purity culture · virginity · chastity · lineage · clan
Voluntary agreement given
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- agencyPower to act
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- advocacyPleading for a cause
activism · human rights · dignity · education access · self-determination · bodily autonomy · freedom · choice
prohibition
Authoritative legal ban
- criminalizationMaking conduct unlawful
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- penaltiesPunishments for infractions
enforcement · legislation · age of consent · statutory rape · prosecution · minimum age · legal reform · annulment · registration · documentation
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- traumaLasting psychological wound
health risks · maternal mortality · dropout · isolation · domestic violence · powerlessness · dependency · psychological impact · pregnancy complications · poverty cycle
dowry
Marital property transfer
- bride priceGroom's payment to in-laws
- betrothalFormal marriage agreement
- matchmakingArranging romantic connections
family honor · patriarchy · ceremony · ritual · purity culture · virginity · chastity · lineage · clan · inheritance
consent
Voluntary agreement given
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- agencyPower to act
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
advocacy · activism · human rights · dignity · education access · self-determination · bodily autonomy · freedom · choice · liberation
- marriagebride, groom, wedding, husband, wife
- social issuesinequality, racism, poverty, illiteracy, homelessness
- feminismfeminism, feminist theory, gender equality, women's rights, feminist novels
- Indian Societycaste, varna, Dalit, untouchability, caste system
- women's rightssuffrage movement, women's suffrage, women's rights, gender equality, feminism
- child lawcustody rights, parental rights, legal guardian, guardianship rights, legal guardians
child, marriage, marry, married, children, marrying, marital, matrimony, matrimonial