underage marriage
Juvenile spousal union
Underage marriage is marriage involving at least one person below the legal age of consent, typically under 18.
The practice remains common in parts of the world despite international efforts to end it, as it often involves coercion and limits educational and economic opportunities for young brides.
Also called child marriage: Organizations work to end underage marriage in developing countries.
- age of consentMinimum years for lawful agreement
- consent lawsRules requiring voluntary agreement
- statutory rapeSex crime defined by age
- child brideMarried minor girl
- arranged marriagesUnions planned by families
shotgun wedding · parental consent · parental pressure · gender inequality · religious customs · international conventions · family honor · cultural norms · rural traditions · legal loopholes · early pregnancy · UNICEF · emancipation · human rights treaties · dowry · survivor support · social stigma · education access
- forbidden loveforbidden love, forbidden romance, illicit love, secret love, forbidden fruit
- marriage barriersbigamy, lack of consent, duress, force, incest
- marriage crimesbigamy, bride trafficking, polygamy, child bride, consent violation
- cultsbrainwashing, mind control, Scientology, Jonestown, Jim Jones
under, marriage, married, marrying, unmarried, remarry, remarriage, intermarriage, marriageable