Marriage at an Early Age Essay

wedding sparky is regarded as a moment of celebration and a milest bingle in big(p) life. The develop at first wedding ceremony varies across the globe. Being unite forwards the age of 18 has been a social norm in third world countries refer to Appendix A. The percentage of women being unite before age 18 is estimated to be 20 to 50 percent in average in growing countries (Joyce, et al. , 2001). On the other hand, western countries argon incredible to experience the similar pattern of conjugation.The marital union is usually delayed too farseeing although this is the most(prenominal) app atomic number 18nt reason for the breakdown in inner ethics (Orsi, 2001). Because of its wealth, western society admits to espouse subsequent in life until they take away built an adequate maturity in age, rearing and financial state. Nowadays, many international organizations have made an lying-in to strike down the number of primeval mating worldwide (Yudkin and Robert, 1996 ). Many desire that the utilization of ahead of time hymeneals tolerate block up self-development of new-made new-fangled ladys.However, in western countries, there are several efforts to promote modern matings (Orsi, 2001). They call up that previous(predicate)ish marriage should be looked as a platform to domesticate maturity together but non as an institution honorable for the grown-up individuals. As we are concern, former(a) marriage is widely practice in developing countries hence a global issue has arisen as to whether earlier marriage does really hinder self development due to the consequences it brings to recent girls. The practice is believed to bring several benefits to some extent.However, the adverse effects it brings passel impede the self-development of modern adolescences in many aspects including health consequences, instance building and reproduction as well as career opportunities. 2. 0Statistical Studies of early(a) Marriage This aspect h ighlights the prevalence of early marriage across the globe and the genuinely reasons of early marriage single-valued functionicularly in developing countries. This aspect is all substantial(p) to illustrate the situation regarding early marriage worldwide. 2. 1Prevalence of Young Marriage The practice of preteen marriage is most common in developing countries (United republic Childrens Fund (UNICEF), 2001).According to Joyce (2001), an analysis of Demographic and healthy study data shows that Latin the States, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asian countries are having the most cases of early marriage. Of these countries that have high cases of young marriage, Niger is the leading country with 88 percent of the women married before age 18. Adapted From Joyce, L. F. , et al. (2001). Future Options Foreclosed Girls Who link untimely. Reproductive health and Rights. 139-143. Retrieved January 25, 2006, from the World Wide Web http//www. path. org/files/RHR-Article-14. pdf. 2. 2Major Factors That Lead to Early MarriageThe huge number of young marriage in developing countries is due to several reasons. Poverty is matchless of the major factors underpinning early marriage (Joyce, 2001). A young girl may be regarded as an stinting burden for a family thus early marriage is looked as a strategy for economic survival. A current study of five very(prenominal) poor villages in Egypt shows that young girls are being married mutilate to much older men from oil-rich Middle Eastern countries for family survival (UNICEF, 2001). Besides, early marriage is one way to ensure that a girl is protected from physical disturbance (UNICEF, 2001).Parents believe that their daughters are safer when they marry early as there is always a man to guard them. For instance, some families in Northern Uganda encourage the young girls to marry to militia members in format to secure protection (UNICEF, 2001). For third world countries, marriage shortly aft(prenominal) puberty i s common among those living traditional lifestyles (Joyce, 2001). The girls as early as 14 years old have to carry responsibilities as a wife. As it has become a social custom, the tradition is carried on from one generation to the next. 3. 0Opponents Views Against Early MarriageThis aspect discusses some of the opponents views against early marriage. It for the most part talks about the disadvantages of early marriage to the girls including the lack of education, health problems and psychosocial disadvantages. The arguments addicted agree that early marriage does hamper self-development. 3. 1 The Denial of facts of life The opponents believed that early marriage denies the right of young adolescents to the education they necessitate for self-development. In traditional societies, the investment in a girls education is thought to be wasted as the girl is going to marry and stay at home doing habitation chores (UNICEF, 2001).For instance, in Northern Nigeria, early marriage is th e very reason girls are often withdrawing from train (UNICEF, 2001). Because of the early end of female education, they have limited opportunities to develop skills and get familiarity that serve them well throughout their lives hence restricts their economic and career opportunities (Joyce, 2001). This is because drug withdrawal from school that results in illiterate and unskil conduct women lead lead to no recognition in professional field. 3. 2 Health and Reproduction fussThe opponents also argued that early accouchement which always occurs in early marriage endanger the lives of some(prenominal) the mother and her baby (Joyce, 2001). The early pregnancy increases the riskiness of complications and dying during delivery. A report shows that the risk of death due to pregnancy-related cases is two-fold among women aged 15 to 19 compared to adult women (Adhikari, 2006). They further stressed that these girls are also more susceptible to shake upually-transmitted diseases ( UNICEF, 2001). Hormonal fluctuations and permeability of vaginal tissues see by these girls can lead to infertility.Moreover, according to a study in Rwanda, 25 percent of women who were pregnant before 18 were befouled with human immunodeficiency virus although they only had sex with their husbands (UNICEF, 2001). 3. 3Psychosocial Disadvantages When early marriage takes put in, the girls willing confront with big(p) randy damage. Sociologists suggested that this is due to their confinement at home to do household chores hence their mobility is denied (UNICEF, 2001). Most of the girls are depressed with this situation that eventually affects their activated well being.An Indian research conducted in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh shew that the spouses of early marriage usually suffered from great psychosocial damage (UNICEF, 2001). Another concern raise by the opponents is that the young girl loses her social life outside family cycle and this has modify her chance of culti vating her own identity (UNICEF, 2001). The most important implication of this is that her vanity is silently hindered from being veritable and this will make her vulnerable to inner and physical violence.In Eastern Africa for instance, a young wife has no right to refuse sex to her husband even though her better half is suspected with HIV (UNICEF, 2001). 4. 0 Proponents Views on Early Marriage This part will enlighten several views that support early marriage in our society. This includes health benefits, social stability and character advantages. In this argument, early marriage is looked upon as a better practice than delayed marriage. 4. 1 Health Benefits The proponents believed that body functions are more effective and healthy at early stage in life.For women, the body is particularly geared towards reproduction during early adulthood (Orsi, 2001). Early marriage is beneficial because desire and energy from young couples also produce healthy offsprings. They also highlight ed that subsequent marriage has led to problematic births and birth defects. This can happen as the body is unlikely to negotiate any burden like pregnancy at a late age. Not surprisingly, later marriage which is always associated with cohabitation and premarital sex increase the risk of sexually-transmitted diseases (Orsi, 2001).The hazardous infections like HIV will administer widely if the practice of premarital sex has became a lifestyle. 4. 2 Early Marriage as a Solution to Cohabitation Another issue raised by the proponents is that the trend towards later marriage has led to a great social deterioration in the society in term of cohabitation. In the United States of America, cohabitation is more prevalent than other countries as the pack choose to marry later in life (Henslin, 2005). A study found that cohabitation before marriage is the very reason for breaking up after they were married (Henslin, 2005).Besides that, the change magnitude case of cohabitation in the United States of America is clearly illustrated by the graph on the next page. Adapted From Henslin, J. M. (2005). Cohabitation. Sociology- A Down to Earth Approach (2nd Ed. ). 468. Boston Pearson, Allyn & Bacon. They further argued that married couples including young spouses gain more benefits in terms of physical health, general merriment and longevity than cohabitants.This is proven from a study which was cited as strong enjoin that cohabiting couples experienced the rate of depression three times more than married couple (Popenoe and Dafoe, 2006). . 3 Self-development Improvement It is also believed that early marriage helps in cultivating maturity. Early marriage is looked upon as a platform for young people to grow in maturity together. Moreover, they share experiences at an early age before egoism is deposited in their heart. This is important to ensure a flourishing marriage is established (Orsi, 2001). They further emphasized that early marriage is a natural institution to gr ow franticly by everyday make pass and take at an early age. This foundation is hard to build later in life.Also, through The London Telegraph, Emma Besbrode has reported that individuals that are unmarried by early age are more vulnerable to depression and retirement (Orsi, 2001). This unbalance in emotional development will lead to a stressful life. 5. 0 How Does Early Marriage Hamper Self-development? In this area, both arguments from proponents and opponents are being evaluated in terms of health, character building and education. This is important to determine whether the practice of early marriage does impede self-development. 5. 1 Health AspectHealth is a very important aspect in self-development of an individual. Early marriage greatly affect the health of young adolescents especially girls. Although women who marry later in life are also vulnerable to problematic birth, (Orsi, 2001) the girls who are particularly still growing up have to struggle with the risks associate d with early pregnancies (UNICEF, 2001). This is because the physical features of the girls are not fully developed and therefore both the girls and their babies have to compete to obtain the necessary nutrients for themselves.This room that early marriage endangers both mother and her baby. Besides those, sexual chat that takes place at a very young age can enhance the risk of sexually-transmitted diseases (STD) (UNICEF, 2001). It is also true that STD can also infect unmarried people as well especially among cohabitants, but a recent study conducted in Rwanda shows that the younger the age at sexual intercourse, the higher(prenominal) the risk of STD (UNICEF, 2001). This proves that early marriage set off a poor cycle of health. 5. 2 Character Building Aspect for each one and every individual has his/her own character. The practice of early marriage limits character development as a girl who marries early experiences less socialising outside her family cycle (UNICEF, 2001). Thi s reduces her opportunities for building her own identity which is vital for her palmy self-development. On the other hand, some individuals believe that early marriage is a stage for maturity to be acquired and it is not just for matured individuals (Orsi, 2001). However, it is not the case as these girls are affected by great emotional disturbance and depression.Inter-American researchers have discovered that these emotional consequences are unavoidable part of life for those who choose to marry early (UNICEF, 2001). Therefore, it is clearly shown that early marriage does hinder personal development. 5. 3 Education and Intellect The importance of well-developed education is vital for an individual to survive. Since early marriage is the major reason for young adolescents to quit from school (Adhikari, 2006), it can restrict career persuasions of a girl by limiting her chances to acquire important skills and knowledge.Without those qualities, the girls incoming seems to foreclos e to any opportunities for economic survival. In fact, unemployment rates are higher for those who have limited education (Baker and Dryden, 1993). This is clearly illustrated from the table below. Unemployment Rate by Educational Attainment for 15 to 24 year-olds, Canada, 1991 Educational AttainmentUnemployment Rate 0 to 8 years29. 5 Some secondary education20. 7 High school graduation15. 7 Some post-secondary12. 6 Post-secondary certificate11. 7 University degree 8. 1 Total16. 2 Source Baker, M. and Dryden, J. (1993).Patterns in Employment and Unemployment or Young People. Families in Canadian Society (2nd Ed. ). 93-94. Canada McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. For those reasons, early marriage is proven to bring more deterioration than benefits. This practice consequently hampers ones personal development. 6. 0 closing curtain The practice of early marriage in our society today does hinder personal development of individuals in terms of health, character building and bright qualitie s. First, a girl is more vulnerable to diseases and complications when sex intercourse takes place between the spouses occur at an early age.Early pregnancies followed by childbearing can also bring harm to the girl by increasing the risks of dying and problems during delivery. Apart from this, character building which is important to determine ones unique identity will be affected as well when a girl enters marriage at a young age. The loss of mobility and social life due to the early marriage will result in lack of self esteem and great emotional damage. In addition, limited education is obvious among those who marry early.In the long run, this lack of schooling will restrict economic and career prospect in the future because withdrawal from school means no qualifications and recognition. This will foreclose the future options of ones self. Therefore, the practice of early marriage is proven to hinder personal development and should be reduced among young adolescents especially in developing countries with high incidence of young marriage. useful steps should be executed by international organization to reduce the number of this practice worldwide. For instance, each country should rise up the legal age for marriage.Besides that, education should be promoted among young couples so that they acquire adequate level of education for their future. Although it is difficult to reduce the number, by fortune the young spouses with their life, it more or less, reduces the burden they carry.