Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 SPORT AND TOUTH ASSOCIATE
2 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran
3 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Child marriage, as a stark manifestation of human rights violations and the perpetuation of gender and economic inequalities, exerts profound adverse effects on the lives of young individuals, particularly girls. This qualitative study aims to explore the consequences of child marriage on young women in Birjand and propose contextually relevant intervention policies. Employing grounded theory methodology, the study involved three stages of coding—open, axial, and core—and was conducted through 19 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with young women who married before the age of 18 or experienced divorce following early marriage. Data analysis revealed that child marriage manifests as a structural cycle of vulnerability, characterized by an intricate interplay of psychological, social, economic, and educational consequences. Psychological impacts include chronic depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and identity disturbance. Social consequences encompass domestic violence, social isolation, and stigmatization as "widows." Economic challenges manifest as financial pressures related to dowry, spousal frugality, and reliance on subsidies. Educational repercussions include school dropout, restrictions on continuing education, and significant disruptions to academic aspirations. Contextual factors such as the cultural belief in preventing girls from "remaining unmarried," the tradition of prolonged engagement ("neshan"), and patriarchal family structures serve as drivers of this cycle. To disrupt this complex cycle, the implementation of multidimensional intervention policies is imperative, including strengthening legal frameworks by raising the minimum marriage age, promoting educational and cultural interventions, empowering girls economically, and enhancing support systems through welfare institutions and non-governmental organizations.
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