Advocacy Speech Title: The effect early marriage has on young girls below the age of 18.

Link to speech:
https://minnstate.zoom.us/rec/share/vbTG0sCYEjAS0kREbKuOsP5fSJ3GAsmvbGWmcdt-
MlTW4TMlStb8upC8oi4Procl.MzQN-oDbBtFyAHkm?startTime=1619729263000

My Audience: Local city council

Introduction:
 Attention getter: For me personally the only thing I remember doing when I was ten was
waiting for the clock to stick 8 so I can watch my favorite cartoon before I go to bed. But
sadly, that’s not the reality for many girls at the age of ten.
 Briefly explain about the topic: Early marriage is a culture that is normalized mainly in
the county side and poorer families.
 Talk briefly about the problems the girls face: psychological problems, girls become
illiterate, prone to health concerns.

Thesis: There are lots of problems that occurs when normalizing early marriage like
psychological problems, diseases, lack of education, etc. but together as a community we can
over come all this.

Preview: Today I would like to begin by discussing the significance of how dangerous early
marriage could be on girls below the age of 18. Next, I would like to introduce a solution to over
come this problem. Lastly, I would like to present arguments in favor of my policy
implementation.

I Problem:
- Many girls under the age of 18 are affected by this all around the world.
a. Mostly country side. Due to the fact that their parents are not educated about the
consequence.
b. Poorer families.
c. For example, rural side of Ethiopia
- The problem is pretty significant due to the fact that it is not only one place that is
affected by early marriage but a portion of girls in the world.
a. The girls are really affected psychologically. Not getting along with their partner may
lead to an abusive relationship.
b. Exposed too many different diseases due to early age sexual intercourse and child
birth. Forced to have sex, which is supposed to be considered rape but does not
count because he is her husband. Mention Obstetric fistula at child birth.
c. Girls that are married are more likely not to go to school due to the fact that she is
responsible for a house hold at such a young age and eventually drop out when they
get pregnant. Girls become illiterate due to the lack of school.
- The problem leads to many bad things like:
a. The girl’s potentials are dimmed at a very young age. Decrease in confidence.
 b. Opportunities would close on them.
c. Girls may die during child birth due to the fact that their body would not be able to
overcome the pain.

II Solution:
- "In the city of Nekemte, marriage under the age of 18 will not be allowed."
III Arguments:
a. Workability: These solutions can make a major change in many girl’s life in the future,
the city council would have to get someone to educate parents and empower girls as
well. Example from the article.
b. Desirability: This policy change would be worth it because it would show a part of the
growth in that country and everyone can also witness the potentials the young girls
have when they are not limited to a certain thing but can also go to school.
c. Cost: This policy change would not cost money as it is something that you as a city
council can change and the people in your area would follow.
d. Disadvantages- Parents would not be open to the fact that early marriage should be
stopped because it is now a culture that has been practiced for a long time so it would
take lots of time and energy.
Advantages- More educated girls with different potentials.
Fewer health concerns.
Not exposed to child birth.
The girls would be psychologically stable.
Conclusion:
- Mention briefly what the problems are.
- Mention the solutions.
Citations-
Goli, S., Rammohan, A., & Singh, D. (2015). The Effect of Early Marriages and Early Childbearing
on Women’s Nutritional Status in India. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 19(8), 1864–1880.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1700-7

Raj, A., Salazar, M., Jackson, E., Wyss, N., McClendon, K., Khanna, A., Belayneh, Y., &
McDougal, L. (2019). Students and brides: a qualitative analysis of the relationship between
girls’ education and early marriage in Ethiopia and India. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 19–19.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6340-6

Dixit, A., Bhan, N., Benmarhnia, T., Reed, E., Kiene, S., Silverman, J., & Raj, A. (2021). The
association between early in marriage fertility pressure from in-laws’ and family planning
behaviors, among married adolescent girls in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India. Reproductive
Health, 18(1), 60–60. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01116-9

Gebremicheal, K., Alemseged, F., Ewunetu, H., Tolossa, D., Ma’alin, A., Yewondwessen, M., &
Melaku, S. (2018). Sequela of female genital mutilation on birth outcomes in Jijiga town,
Ethiopian Somali region: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(1), 305–
305. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1937-4

Stoner, M., Rucinski, K., Edwards, J., Selin, A., Hughes, J., Wang, J., Agyei, Y., Gomez-Olive, F.,
MacPhail, C., Kahn, K., & Pettifor, A. (2019). The Relationship Between School Dropout and
Pregnancy Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa: A HPTN 068 Analysis.
Health Education & Behavior, 46(4), 559–568. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198119831755