Why So Soon? The Impact of Early Marriage

Early marriage, where someone under 18 ties the knot, is a widespread issue globally. But why do people rush into it? Sometimes, families push for it to ensure their daughter's safety. Other times, it's about sticking to cultural or religious norms. In some cases, money is the driving force. A young girl might be married off to settle family debts or to bring in wealth. Imagine being a young person, still learning and growing, and suddenly you're married. It's a huge change. Marriage can bring a lot of stress and responsibilities. This can lead to feelings of sadness and hopelessness. A study in a specific region showed that early marriage is linked to higher rates of depression. This makes sense, as young people might feel overwhelmed by the sudden changes and challenges. But early marriage isn't just about the person getting married. It's about society too. We need to think about why it happens and how we can stop it. We need to support young people and give them the chance to grow up before they take on such big responsibilities. So, what can we do? We can start by talking about it. We can educate people about the risks and the importance of waiting. We can also support policies that protect young people and give them the chance to make their own choices. It's also important to think about the bigger picture. Early marriage is often linked to poverty and lack of education. If we want to stop it, we need to address these issues too. We need to give young people the chance to learn and grow. Early marriage isn't just about one person or one family. It's about society as a whole. We need to think critically about why it happens and how we can stop it. We need to support young people and give them the chance to live their lives to the fullest.