Indonesia has the eighth highest number of child marriages, with around 1,781,000 women married under the age of eighteen. In this article, we’ll be talking about why child marriages are so popular in east Asian country and what the government is doing to stop it.
Why is it so popular?
The main reason why child marriage is so popular is because of gender inequality and the belief that girls are somehow inferior to boys. They also believe that girls do not need to be educated further than primary, and are taken out of school quite early. This is mainly because her parents believe that she would become a housewife, and further education would only hinder her. Child marriages are also used to help with the financial burden of the girl’s house; her parents would use her marriage (usually with a man a lot older than her) to be able to support themselves as well.
The dangers
The mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of the girl is put at risk. When she’s married to a man over ten years older, she is practically powerless and the man takes advantage. She can be emotionally, physically and sexually abused. The girl would get pregnant at a very young age as well, which would lead to complications during labor and premature birth. These girls can even develop PTSD (post-traumatic-stress-disorder) and depression. These girls aren’t able to achieve a higher level of education, which keeps them trapped in the cycle of poverty.
During COVID-19
During this pandemic, the number of child marriages has dramatically spiked. A lot of their parents have lost their jobs and are struggling financially, and it results in them marrying their daughters off to a lot of older men to ease the burden. Before the pandemic, around 20-25% of these girls were forced into child marriages, but the percentage dramatically increased to 30-39%. It is even more rampant in rural areas.
Comments