Child marriage is not just a phenomenon confined to distant lands or religious practices; it is a significant issue right here in the United States. While many people may assume that one must be at least eighteen years old to marry legally, this is not the case for numerous minors, particularly young girls, who find themselves in situations that can lead to dire consequences.
Between 2000 and 2010, advocacy group Unchained At Last estimated that around 248,000 children were married in the U.S. Alarmingly, 85% of these cases involved girls, many of whom were wed to men significantly older than themselves. In fact, a staggering 78% of these young brides were paired with adult men, sometimes decades older. In many instances, these marriages would be classified as statutory rape if they weren’t legitimized by the law.
The laws surrounding marriage vary widely by state. According to the Tahirih Justice Center, 27 states have no minimum age requirement for marriage. Some states allow marriage at 17, while others permit it as young as 14 for boys and 13 for girls. Parental consent, judicial approval, or even mere clerk authorization can suffice for minors to marry. Virginia stands out as one of the few states that mandates participants be at least 18 years old or emancipated minors aged 16 or 17. In the period from 2000 to 2010, children as young as twelve got married in states like South Carolina, Louisiana, and Alaska.
A Personal Story
A common narrative among child brides is that of Emma Smith (a pseudonym), who met her husband, Mark, at a youth counseling center when she was just 16. Mark, 29 at the time, began to show interest in her through subtle flirtations that rapidly escalated. Following their marriage—authorized by Emma’s mother with the stipulation that she complete her high school education—Emma found herself trapped. She was unable to enroll in school because of assumptions about her pregnancy, a situation that reflects a broader systemic failure. Tragically, she became pregnant before turning 18, and the relationship turned abusive. Emma eventually escaped, but not without losing custody of her child to Mark.
Statistics reveal alarming trends: girls who marry before 19 are 50% more likely to drop out of high school and face barriers to education and employment. Moreover, those wed before 18 are three times more likely to experience physical abuse compared to women who marry after 21.
The Need for Change
Stories like those of Sarah Johnson, who was coerced into marrying her rapist at age eleven, illustrate the urgent need to address child marriage. Despite these grim realities, efforts to ban child marriages face resistance. A recent initiative by a Girl Scout in New Hampshire to raise the marriage age to 18 was thwarted by lawmakers who deemed it unnecessary. Similar efforts in New Jersey to ban underage marriage were vetoed by Governor Chris Christie, who cited potential conflicts with religious customs.
The reality remains stark: child marriages can entrap minors in cycles of violence and lost opportunities. Reports of young children, some as young as ten, married to much older men, highlight a disturbing trend that must be addressed. Such practices should not be tolerated in a society that prides itself on protecting the vulnerable. It is time for significant reforms to protect minors from these predicaments.
Resources for Family Planning
For those interested in exploring family planning and reproductive health options, resources such as Hopkins Medicine provide valuable information, while Make a Mom offers insights into home insemination kits. Additionally, our other blog post on intracervical insemination might be helpful for those considering alternative methods of conception.
In summary, child marriage remains a pressing issue in America, affecting the lives of countless minors. Legislative efforts to end this practice are often met with resistance, highlighting a troubling disconnect between societal values and legal protections for children.