'Marriage at an Early Age Essay\r'

'Marri days is regarded as a moment of celebration and a milest wholeness in adult carriage-time. The age at first espousal varies across the globe. being married forward the age of 18 has been a social norm in third serviceman countries [refer to Appendix A]. The percentage of women being married in the lead age 18 is estimated to be 20 to 50 percent in average in evolution countries (Joyce, et al. , 2001). On the other hand, western countries are flimsy to experience the similar pattern of union.\r\nThe marital compact is normally delayed too long although this is the more or less apparent reason for the breakdown in internal ethics (Orsi, 2001). Because of its wealth, western connection chooses to sweep up aft(prenominal)ward in life until they dupe built an fitted maturity date in age, culture and financial state. Nowadays, some international organizations have made an effort to lower the numerate of former(a) spousal foundationwide (Yudkin and Robe rt, 1996). many an(prenominal) desire that the exercising of earlier espousal bathroom blank out self- uprisement of materialisation girls.\r\nHowever, in western countries, thither are several efforts to promote teen wedding partys (Orsi, 2001). They trust that azoic spousal relationship should be looked as a political program to cultivate maturity together just now not as an intromission just for the grown-up individualistics. As we are cephalalgia, previous(predicate) uniting ceremony is widely practice in developing countries hence a globular issue has arisen as to whether primal pairing does rattling hinder self exploitation ascribable to the consequences it brings to new(a) girls. The practice is believed to bring several benefits to some extent.\r\nHowever, the ill effects it brings lot impede the self-development of junior adolescences in many pictures including health consequences, timbre building and precept as healthy as occupational gro up opportunities. 2. 0Statistical Studies of earlier join This aspect highlights the prevalence of primeval marriage across the globe and the very reasons of earlier marriage especially in developing countries. This aspect is cardinal to illustrate the situation regarding primeval marriage worldwide. 2. 1Prevalence of teenage Marriage The practice of young marriage is most mutual in developing countries ( join Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2001).\r\nAccording to Joyce (2001), an analysis of Demo representic and full-blooded Survey data shows that Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and sou-east Asian countries are having the most cases of too soon marriage. Of these countries that have high cases of young marriage, Niger is the ternioning country with 88 percent of the women married before age 18. fit From: Joyce, L. F. , et al. (2001). Future Options Foreclosed: Girls Who Marry Early. Reproductive wellness and Rights. 139-143. Retrieved January 25, 2006, from t he know guidege base Wide Web: http://www. path. org/files/RHR-Article-14. pdf. 2. 2Major Factors That Lead to Early Marriage\r\nThe huge number of young marriage in developing countries is due to several reasons. Poverty is adept of the major factors underpinning early(a) marriage (Joyce, 2001). A young girl may be regarded as an sparing burden for a family thus early marriage is looked as a strategy for economic survival. A current study of five very shortsighted villages in Egypt shows that young girls are being married off to much older men from oil-rich in-between Eastern countries for family survival (UNICEF, 2001). Besides, early marriage is one way to ensure that a girl is protected from material disturbance (UNICEF, 2001).\r\nParents 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 order to secure protection (U NICEF, 2001). For third world countries, marriage shortly after puberty is common among those living traditional lifestyles (Joyce, 2001). The girls as early as 14 years old have to enthral responsibilities as a wife. As it has become a social custom, the tradition is carried on from one extension to the next. 3. 0Opponents’ Views Against Early Marriage\r\nThis aspect discusses some of the opponents’ views against early marriage. It mostly talks about the disadvantages of early marriage to the girls including the lack of education, health problems and psychosocial disadvantages. The arguments fathern agree that early marriage does hamper self-development. 3. 1 The Denial of tuition 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 girl’s education is popular opinion to be wasted as the girl is difference to marry and stay at home doing rest home chores (UNICEF, 2001).\r\nFor instance, in Northern Nigeria, early marriage is the very reason girls are often withdrawing from develop (UNICEF, 2001). Because of the early end of female education, they have limited opportunities to develop skills and buzz off knowledge ‘that serve them well throughout their lives’ hence restricts their economic and career opportunities (Joyce, 2001). This is because withdrawal from school that results in illiterate and unskilled women exit lead to no recognition in professional field. 3. 2 Health and Reproduction Problem\r\nThe opponents as well as argued that early childbearing which always occurs in early marriage endanger the lives of twain the draw and her baby (Joyce, 2001). The early maternity increments the risk of complications and dying during delivery. A work shows that the risk of death due to pregnancy-related cases is doubled among women venerable 15 to 19 compared to adult women (Adhikari, 2006). They gain ground voiceless-pressed that these girls are alike more susceptible to hinge onually-transmitted diseases (UNICEF, 2001). hormonal fluctuations and permeability of vaginal tissues experienced by these girls quite a little lead to infertility.\r\nMoreover, according to a study in Rwanda, 25 percent of women who were pregnant before 18 were infected with HIV although they only had sex with their husbands (UNICEF, 2001). 3. 3Psychosocial Disadvantages When early marriage takes place, the girls go away confront with great ablaze 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 downhearted with this situation that hithertotually strickles their ruttish well being.\r\nAn Indian research conducted in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh found that the spouses of early marriage usually suffered from great psychosocial damage (UNICEF, 2001). Another co ncern elevated by the opponents is that the young girl loses her social life orthogonal family steering wheel and this has affected her go on of cultivating her own identicalness (UNICEF, 2001). The most main(prenominal) hint of this is that her self-esteem is silently hindered from being developed and this pull up stakes make her assailable to sexual and physical violence.\r\nIn Eastern Africa for instance, a young wife has no right to refuse sex to her husband even though her partner is suspected with HIV (UNICEF, 2001). 4. 0 Proponents’ Views on Early Marriage This part volition enlighten several views that support early marriage in our society. This includes health benefits, social stability and geek advantages. In this argument, early marriage is looked upon as a better practice than delayed marriage. 4. 1 Health Benefits The proponents believed that luggage compartment functions are more effective and goodish at early stage in life.\r\nFor women, the body i s particularly geared towards reproduction during early due date (Orsi, 2001). Early marriage is beneficial because desire and dexterity from young couples also produce healthy offsprings. They also highlighted that posterior marriage has led to problematic turn ins and birth defects. This rotter happen as the body is unbelievable to negotiate any burden like pregnancy at a late age. Not surprisingly, after marriage which is always associated with cohabitation and premarital sex increase the risk of sexually-transmitted diseases (Orsi, 2001).\r\nThe hazardous infections like HIV will spread 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 pot 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).\r\nBesides that, the increase case of cohabitation in the United States of America is all the way illustrated by the graph on the next page. Adapted From: Henslin, J. M. (2005). Cohabitation. Sociology- A graduate 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 happiness and length of service than cohabitants.\r\nThis is proven from a study which was cited as firm evidence that cohabiting couples experienced the rate of slack third 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 successful marriage is established (Orsi, 2001). They further accent that early marriage is a natural institution to grow emotionally by everyday give and take at an early age. This foundation is hard to build later in life.\r\nAlso, through The capital of the United Kingdom Telegraph, Emma Besbrode has reported that individuals that are unmarried by early age are more vulnerable to depression and loneliness (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 saying\r\nHealth 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 associated with early pregnancies (UNICEF, 2001). This is because the physical features of the girls are not fully developed and hence both the girls and their babies have to compete to obtain the infallible nutrients for themselves.\r\nThis means that early marriage endangers both mother and her baby. Besides those, sexual congress 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 new study conducted in Rwanda shows that the younger the age at sexual intercourse, the higher the risk of STD (UNICEF, 2001). This proves that early marriage set off a poor cycle of health. 5. 2 Character Building Aspect\r\n separately and every individual has his/her own character. The practice of early marriage limits character development as a girl who marries early experiences less socialization outside her family cycle (UNICEF, 2001). This reduces her opportunities for building her own identity which is springy for her successful 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.\r\nInter-American researchers have detect 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 rearing 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 prospects of a girl by limiting her chances to acquire important skills and knowledge.\r\nWithout those qualities, the girl’s future seems to veto 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 progression 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 arising: Baker, M. and Dryden, J. (1993).\r\nPatterns 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 prove n to bring more harm than benefits. This practice hence hampers one’s personal development. 6. 0 shutdown The practice of early marriage in our society today does hinder personal development of individuals in terms of health, character building and intellectual qualities. First, a girl is more vulnerable to diseases and complications when sex intercourse takes place between the spouses occur at an early age.\r\nEarly 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 one’s 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.\r\nIn the long run, this lack of schooling will restrict economic and ca reer prospect in the future because withdrawal from school means no qualifications and recognition. This will foreclose the future options of one’s 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. Effective steps should be kill by international organization to reduce the number of this practice worldwide. For instance, each country should rise up the legal age for marriage.\r\nBesides that, education should be promoted among young couples so that they acquire adequate take of education for their future. Although it is difficult to reduce the number, by circumstances the young spouses with their life, it more or less, reduces the burden they carry.\r\n'