4.

INVESTIGATING IMPACTS AND CAUSES OF CHILD MARRIAGE

FROM AN EMPIRICAL LENS

“My name is Shahen, and I'd want to introduce myself. I am seventeen years old. My parents
married me when I was approximately 6 years old, so it's been 12 years. This year, they'll
formally send me to my husband's residence. I didn't realize I was married until my mother
informed me two years ago. I was stunned and couldn't believe what I was hearing. Though I
realize I have no choice but to travel to my husband's house, I believe child marriage is a really
bad practice. I hoped to continue my studies, but I'm not sure if that would be possible now. My
husband appears to be a wonderful person by nature, but I'm curious as to what would have
happened if he wasn't. I'm still hesitant to visit him, but I don't have any other options.”1

These kinds of testimonies show that child marriage is a complicated issue with a variety of
reasons that contribute to it. The marriage is the result of several contributing circumstances
taking precedence over the consequences. The consequences of child marriage are significantly
greater than the circumstances that contribute to the marriage's inception. Wearing fresh and
lovely clothes and resembling a doll they once played with is highly exciting for small toddlers
who have no idea what is going on. Only when the catastrophe is over are, they confronted with
the truth that their lives have been completely unprepared for. The impact of child marriage on a
minor's mentality is difficult to comprehend. Girls are frequently more victims of this practice
than boys. Girls are also more likely to become victims, according to statistics. The girl
youngster who falls victim to this practice has a gloomy feeling. The sensation of having her life
robbed from her, the missed opportunity to study and grow, the fate of being a slave to her
husband and in-laws, and the stillness that her cheerful self must adjust to are all grave truths in
her existence.
The issue of child marriage has ramifications for society as a whole. It isn't restricted to a single
issue. The consequences of child marriage have far-reaching implications for the country's
overall advancement rate. It has an adverse effect on women's participation in the workforce,
which has a negative influence on economic advancement. Women make up about half of India's
1
Original account from a respondent in the Rajasthani city of Jaipur. For reasons of anonymity and privacy,
her name has been changed.
population, and their significant absence from purposeful contribution due to child marriage,
early childbirth, and the resulting health hurdles has negative consequences. It's critical to
comprehend the numerous causes and consequences of child marriage.

4.1 KEY OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS

The data that we had found according to MAMTA-HIMC Delhi2, Tharuni- Telangana3, NIDAN-
Bihar and Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Studies in Rural Development 4. These non-
governmental organizations aided in data collecting and provided interpreters in areas where
language was a barrier. The NGOs aided in engaging with the communities, and their presence
was vital in making this study a huge success. Research was carried out in four regions of India,
with one state serving as a representative, in order to provide a holistic understanding of the issue
of child marriage.
These states were chosen because of the high prevalence of child marriage. Census 2011 and
NFHS statistics were mentioned as sources of information. Telangana (undivided Andhra
Pradesh), Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are the four states. They were chosen to represent
the regions of the South, East, West, and North.

4.1.2 UTTAR PRADESH

One of the first things that were noted was the lack of basic infrastructure. Some of the districts'
roadways are still being built improperly.
The roads within the village are also in poor condition, making it difficult for females to get to
school.

2
 MAMTA – Health Institute for Mother and Child is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering
underprivileged people and communities via gender-sensitive participatory procedures in order to promote long-
term health and development.
3
Tharuni's mission is to empower adolescent girls and women to create a world free of discrimination. Tharuni's
goal is to educate the girl so that she has a higher self-esteem and a greater say in decision-making, that she marries
at the appropriate age, and that she plays a significant role in social development. Tharuni is likewise concerned
with women's well-being at all stages of their lives.
4
PISRD is a non-profit organization that focuses on study and action with the goal of empowering and uplifting the
poor and underprivileged. Their goal is to stress people's participation at the grassroots level. For long-term success,
the Institute believes in need-based activities in society.
The roads in the village have barely improved in the last one or two months, according to the
residents. When the village girls went to school, they were eve-teased, so their parents
discouraged them from continuing their studies. They were urged to go to school in groups and
return in groups, rather than going alone, with the help of non-governmental organizations. Due
to a severe shortage of teachers at the school, the quality of instruction has been severely harmed,
especially given the large number of students who attend. Because learning opportunities are
restricted, it is difficult for girls and women to gain vocational skills that will enable them to
support themselves. Some of the kid grooms came forward to tell their stories as well. While the
girls are disproportionately the victims of this abuse, the boys have their challenges to discuss.
One of them mentioned how difficult it was for him to care for a family at such a young age. He
intended to continue his education but was compelled to marry when he was just 18 years old by
his family. His goals have been shattered, he said, because he is now forced to work in the fields
to earn money and support for his family. The villagers described how they were aware that child
marriages were taking place, but that the local administration was complicit in the practice and
did nothing to prevent them.

4.1.3 BIHAR

Unlike Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, the research in Bihar was conducted in urban slums.
Despite being in an urban setting, there was a high rate of child marriage in the urban slums. One
of the primary factors in the spread of the practice was illiteracy and a lack of good education.
Concerns about the girl child's safety were also an issue. While the media promotes knowledge
and freedom of choice, it provides a stumbling block for backward cultures who are resistant to
the idea that a girl can choose her marriage. Some young Muslim women were also interviewed,
and their living conditions were appalling.
One of them had given birth to a child who was born with low birth weight. Doctors were
concerned that the kid might not live for long. The mother was also discovered to be in critical
health. The alcohol prohibition in the state has greatly helped women in slums. It has resulted in
fewer cases of domestic abuse being perpetrated against them. They hope that one day their
spouses will start working and earning a living in addition to them, who must earn, feed, and care
for everything at the same time.
4.1.4 RAJASTHAN

The majority of the ladies stated that they had never attended school and that they were raised in
a village where education was not valued. Following their marriages, they all moved to the city.
The majority of the women said they hadn't seen their husbands before the wedding day. The
family has instilled in them the belief that only the father is required to meet the lad before the
wedding. Preference for a boy child persists in this state, subjecting women to earlier and more
frequent pregnancies until they birth a boy, or their health deteriorates to the point where they
can no longer produce children. The practice of child marriage is strongly rooted in this state's
culture.

4.2 CAUSALITY AND RESULTANT IMPACTS OF CHILD MARRIAGE

The practice of child marriage persists because it is deeply ingrained in patriarchy and is based
on tenacious cultural standards. Many factors contribute to the long-term survival of this
practice, which has the effect of taking away children's bright futures while binding them to
institutions and situations for which they are completely unsuited. Let's look at some of the key
reasons for child marriage, as well as the consequences.

4.2.1 EDUCATION

One of the major contributors to the problem of child marriage is education. Where the girl
child's parents are uneducated, they are unable to motivate their daughters to attend school. A
female may encounter conventional statements such as: "She is merely meant to get married,
take care of her family, produce and raise children, so what is the need for education?" or "What
would these girls who educate themselves so much achieve?"
This type of remark is more typical in rural areas. The issues are different in circumstances
where parents are encouraged and eager to support their daughter's education. They frequently
have concerns about their daughters' safety. Sending daughters to school is a regular source of
anxiety. This fear originates from the possibility that their daughter may fall in love with a boy
from a different caste who will not be the proper fit for her, according to the family. The families
are unconcerned about their daughters having an education, but they are concerned that a love
connection may cause them to abandon their families. Girls must consequently barter over
several criteria before entering school to acquire an education. These requirements include being
a nice daughter to their parents, working hard in school, and having no boy friendships or affairs.
When it comes to sending females to school, there is yet another concern. If the school is too far
away, parents may be hesitant to bring their daughter for safety reasons. Some fathers told UP
that they were afraid to send their daughters since they had been eve teased. Girls who do not
have access to a safe environment are more likely to drop out of school. Distance is another
factor that prevents parents from sending their daughters to school. If the school is too far away
and the girl's journey time is too long, they consider it a better alternative. The girl stays at home
and assists with domestic tasks. This is because obtaining an education is not given the respect it
deserves in these communities.
Girls with the aptitude, sensibility, and fortitude to confront their families and demand education
are few. It's a tough fight. They are frequently compelled to listen to what their family members
have to say. They are taught from the moment they are born to be silent, not to express their
ideas, and to accept whatever their father decides. Education also aids in raising awareness of the
negative consequences of this practice. When the girl's parents are uneducated, they are unaware
that child marriage is a crime in and of itself. They are solely guided by social standards.
Illiterate girls are sometimes unaware that there is legislation in place to protect them. If they are
even slightly aware that child marriage is illegal, they are frequently instructed to tell anyone
who inquiries about their age of marriage that they were married at the age of 18 years. There is
one more lapse that has been discovered.

4.2.2 ECONOMICS AND CHILD MARRIAGE

The societal mindset that views girls as a financial burden contributes significantly to the
practice of underage marriage. In India, the girl's family refers to her as "paraya dhan." This
directly translates to "someone else's money." This gives rise to the idea that girls can contribute
positively to the household in which they marry. Investing in a girl's education or health is
therefore seen as a bad economic investment when compared to investing in a boy child's
schooling. The entire arrangement is based on the expected returns on these investments. A boy's
education would enable him to find work and thus contribute to the natal house's income. Many
individuals still favor sons over daughters, even though girls are attaining great success in
society. Most measures performed by parents toward the girl child are based on the belief that
the girl will eventually marry and move to her marital household. This would almost certainly
result in her not being sent to school or being dropped out to marry her as soon as possible. The
son preference is so strong that these child brides must continually conceive babies until they
either produce a son or their bodies are damaged to the point that they can no longer bear
pregnancies. Another problem that facilitates these marriages is the practice of dowry. Dowry is
also thought to be linked to age. The younger the bride, the lower the dowry, while the elder the
bride, the higher the dowry.
This is because a young bride is more flexible and less likely to express any resistance to the
household rules when she first joins the family. Norms also demand that girls marry men who
are older than them, which implies that if the girl is older, she will have to marry a man who is
older than herself. This custom stems from the patriarchal belief that the male must have a
greater influence in the marriage, and age is the axis through which that authority is wielded.
Unmarried men are frequently well educated, and as a result, they seek a higher dowry in
exchange for the better lifestyle they will offer for their wives. Another side of the problem is
that it is customary for the bride's family to cover the wedding expenses. Some families are not
even close to being financially stable enough to marry their daughter. When there are a lot of
females in the family, the practice of marrying off daughters’ young is very common since the
younger they are, the less dowry their parents have to pay. It's critical to recognize the economic
impact of young girls' lack of engagement in the labor. Early marriage reduces the likelihood that
these young women will formally enter the workforce. If they do get in, it's usually because they
work in the unorganized sector.

4.2.3 CONTROL OVER SEXUALITY

Child marriage is a method of limiting a girl's sexuality. When a girl reaches puberty, she is
deemed suitable for marriage. Child marriage is considered a viable method for controlling her
sexual choices or autonomy. There appears to be an over-emphasis on the virginity and chastity
of the girl child. The girl's sexuality is tied to the family's honor. Boys, on the other hand, are not
like this. The girl's parents frequently hide behind the fear of their family's blood being tainted if
the girl runs away or has sexual relations with a boy from a lower caste. The parents' worry is
cited as an argument for decreasing the marriage age. Marriage is considered a means of
legitimizing sexual activity on its own. This also leads to the regulation of women's reproductive
decisions. Whether the girl wants to have children or not is taken into consideration.

4.2.4 GENDER DEFINED ROLE

The practice of assigning tight gender roles has been around for a long time. Girls are socialized
to believe that their primary position is always in connection to others, i.e. as a daughter, a
daughter-in-law, a wife, and finally a mother, from the moment they are born. These
expectations become impediments for a girl who wants to do something other than marry. Men's
roles are also built on their masculinity, and everything they do is linked to this self. Men have
been socialized to believe that they are superior to women and must thus dominate them. Until
the daughter marries, the father's masculinity and honor are defined by his daughter's chastity
and protection. If he loses control over his daughter, society will question his honor and
masculinity. Child marriage is regarded as a viable option for avoiding such "shameful"
situations. Boys who are married off too young must also confront reality. They're frequently
entangled in a web of patriarchal control as well, albeit the level of control isn't as severe. Those
guys who misbehave and deviate from masculinity norms are married off early as a means of
reinforcing control over them. The son is loaded with the duty of a woman and child at an early
age, without any consideration of whether or not his life is ready for it. As a result, the son's
dependence on the father grows, and the father is certain of receiving obeisance from both his
son and his wife. The son is tasked with disciplining both himself and his wife in order to
maintain the household's customs. If he does not follow suit, he risks being tossed out and left to
fend for himself. These rigid gender standards play a role in the marital decision-making process.