Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Master's Graduate. Department of Cultural Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaʾi University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant professor, Department of Cultural Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaʾi University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Although marriage is clearly defined from a legal perspective, in reality, it is not a simple social phenomenon. Marriage holds different meanings across various cultures and is not limited to a relationship between two individuals; rather, it encompasses the union of two families and broader social networks. Early marriage is one of the significant topics in social studies, examining the cultural, economic, and psychological consequences of such unions. From a social studies perspective, early marriage (marriage before the legal or customary age of a society) can play a crucial role in shaping social structures, women's rights, and the cultural development of communities.
Despite the studies conducted on early marriage, there is limited information available on how girls who have experienced or are close to marriage perceive and experience it. Few studies have explored women's perspectives and attitudes toward various aspects of marriage in cultural contexts where early marriage is common. Therefore, it is essential to address the social and cultural dimensions of early marriage, with an emphasis on the lived experiences of girls who have been child brides and have not yet completed their childhood. In this regard, the present research delves deeply and meticulously into the layered experiences of children who have entered marital life while still under the age of 18. This study adopts a phenomenological approach to conduct an in-depth and meticulous analysis, examining the various layers of the lived experiences of children under 18 in marital lifeand and The researcher aims to understand the experiences of girls in early marriage, their perceptions of gender roles, and the outcomes of this decision within the broader context of their lives. Through "purposeful sampling," criteria for participant inclusion were established: having experienced early marriage, residing in Saqqez, being of Kurdish ethnicity, and being under 18 years of age. Accordingly, eleven girls under 18 with early marriage experiences were selected for interviews. The average age of participants was 17, and they had married at an average age of 16. Most of these individuals, except for two cases, rated their economic situation as poor. They were all homemakers and had not completed their high school education after marriage. The data collection strategy in this study focuses on the use of in-depth interviews and individual interview techniques. After each interview, conducted in Kurdish, was recorded, the resulting data was transcribed by the researcher and translated into Persian. After recording, the interviews were transcribed by the researcher and analyzed using Moustakas' phenomenological analysis method. The main themes derived from the data analysis include: general perceptions, entry scenarios, considerations and gender/sexual roles, reactions of those around them, and the challenges of early marriage. These themes were interpreted and analyzed at three levels: textual, structural, and composite. The researcher first described the participants' experiences using meaningful phrases and themes (textual description). These phrases and themes were also used to write a descriptive account of the context or background that influences how the phenomenon is experienced by the participants (structural description). Finally, the researcher provided a composite description.
During the interviews with child brides, three scenarios emerged: "Mam and Zain, Consent and Love," "The Dreamland, Understanding Marriage and Parental Roles," and "Context, Culture, and Family Beliefs." These scenarios were identified as factors leading to the entry of young girls into early marriage. Gender considerations and roles encompass two sub-themes: "The Role of Spouse, Perception of Motherhood, Responsibilities, and Expectations" and "Confronting Gender Roles (Commercial Gaze or Self-Suspension)." The third theme derived from the narratives of the child brides pertains to the perceptions and understandings they had of themselves as an objective entity and how others viewed them. For these individuals, who were not prepared to assume gender and sexual roles, marriage is considered a critical stage that requires the support of those around them to find an opportunity for self-recovery and to navigate this transition with minimal emotional, psychological, and relational stress. The reactions of those around them encompass two sub-themes: supportive behavior and interventionist behavior. The final theme highlighted by the child brides in their narratives was the challenges they faced upon entering early marriage. These challenges spanned all aspects of the girls' lives—social, economic, physical, psychological, and sexual—and included unfulfilled dreams, multiple forms of violence, sexual challenges from lack of awareness to disillusionment, child motherhood, economic hardship, lack of private space, control issues, psychological crises, inability to break away from previous relationships, and child widowhood. Ultimately, child marriage is shaped not by isolated factors but by the simultaneous interplay of ethnicity, gender, class, and the system of sexuality. Such intersections profoundly influence their unpleasant and difficult experiences as child brides. Therefore, based on all the narratives provided, they are children who lack the skills and ability to cope with their new lives and feel utterly helpless. Even if they are given the opportunity to rebuild themselves in the future, they will often become troubled and distressed women and mothers. Child marriage poses a threat to the well-being of children and has devastating consequences for a girl's life, imposing significant costs on society. Therefore, it is essential to address the factors that impact girls' lives and compel them to marry at a young age by providing them with opportunities for informed choices and enabling them to thrive in a safe and violence-free environment. Additionally, emotional and psychological support resources should be made available to children and their families, and efforts should be made to diminish cultural and gender norms that perpetuate inequality and strip women of their agency. Poverty reduction programs should be accompanied by simultaneous shifts in girls' aspirations and values, and educational policies should be adopted to encourage girls to stay in school and pursue their studies. This will help girls recognize and achieve their dreams and potential. Government programs, policies, and laws must also be reviewed and effectively implemented, ensuring support not only for those at risk but also for those who have already married at a young age and been deprived of education due to marriage. These individuals should be empowered across psychological, emotional, and social dimensions.
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