Early-Age Marriage in Ethiopia - Essay Example

Auto-Ethnography: Early-Age Marriage in Ethiopia Introduction This research is inspired by my first-hand experiences in people engaging in early unions, or people expressing the desire to be involved in such. The personal observations presented in the paper are based on early-age unions that went wrong. Early-age marriage may be a sensitive topic because for some societies, it is part of tradition and culture already. However, I cannot help but look further into this matter because in most of my readings on this topic, early-age marriage is linked to poverty and developing nations, and is being seriously scrutinized by experts all over the world. In this particular research, I want to look into the cultural differences that spell the differences on how different societies view, and react to, early-age marriages or unions. In the Americas, I have come to believe that early-age unions, if ever they occur, are generally viewed, or judged, as a result of lack of parental guidance. Ironically, according to research, in Ethiopia, early-age marriages are planned by parents for many different reasons, but mostly to have a little “relief” from continuous poverty. My aim in this research is to try to look at the different reasons and effects of early-age marriages to present them to readers in order to not only learn on the Ethiopian culture, but also to gain an insight into how important this aspect is in a person's life. Should people see how the freedom that young people have in a nation whose civil rights movement is at its highest is sometimes taken for granted because they are not placed in an opposite position, they might place more importance on matters that other people of their age would give everything to have. Background Should people, especially in underdeveloped communities where access to health care is inadequate, delay the age of marriage, problems on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of these young girls will be lessened. Early-age marriage is a common occurrence in developing countries. One example of this is Ethiopia, where “62% of Ethiopian women aged 20-49 get married before the age of 18,” (Alemu 4) and most, if not all, of these are arranged by the parents of the couple. Furthermore, Ethiopia is ranked as having 12th largest occurrences of early marriages according to the International Center for Research on Women. In such marriages, these young girls are usually just forced to give in to their parents’ wishes for marriage. Permission of the bride is usually not sought, and even prior knowledge or consultation is usually not given. Because of this, the child-bride's physical, emotional, and mental well-being are placed under risk of damage that could sometimes be irreparable. Physical problems such as domestic violence, spousal rape, or complications during child-bearing and giving birth can cause severe damage to the child-bride (Gossaye et al. 2). Additionally, emotional issues such as depression, trauma, and even mental distress are evident in a big percentage of these marriages (Gossaye et al. 2). Furthermore, mental problems can also be observed in such marriages. For one, these child-brides are rarely able to go back to school after marriage. This deprives them of self-development and chances for growth. Self-fulfillment becomes rare for these females. Physical Problems in Early-Age Marriages I have not really immersed in a community where early-age marriages abound. However, there are certain multi-cultural communities in rural settings where these types of marriages or unions can be seen. I have observed that while domestic issues are present in every marriage, such issues are more emphasized if one of the spouses is very young. For one, I have always been against domestic violence. There is a general consensus that aside from the children, women are almost always the victims in domestic violence. If adult woman has problems in preventing it from happening to her, how much more can a child-bride prevent it from happening to her? From a young age until now, I have witnessed several occurrences of violence against young “female partners” especially in Asian communities. What is even more shocking is how people from these communities seem to view it as normal. Furthermore, I know – through experiences, peer interactions, education, etc. – how dangerous it is for a child to become pregnant. I believe that it only takes common sense for one to understand that a young reproductive system cannot be at its best ability to carry a child. The risks associated with these marriages can be detrimental to the physical well-being of the child-bride. Marrying early can easily be linked to giving birth also at an early age. Complications brought about by early pregnancies and giving birth should be given focus. According to the International Center for Research on Women, it is estimated that yearly, around 14 million girls give birth while in their puberty years. Sadly, such incidents increase the risks of a mother's death during childbirth twofold. Such data are not given importance in a nation whose young people have easy access to health care. If they are able to see how Ethiopian girls yearn for even a small percentage of the freedom to decide when to “get married,” maybe they will be more careful in their relationship decisions in their lives. I know that it is not rally fair to generalize all American teenagers as irresponsible in this area, but the lax attitude of the younger generation when it comes to sexual relations and the possible repercussions of such make me think that sometimes, we take for granted the things that are at the tip of our fingers – such as freedom to decide, health access, and community support. Emotional Problems in Early-Age Marriages Depression, trauma, and mental distress are common issues surrounding early-age marriages (Gossaye et al. 2). If one is forced into an early-age marriage, I cannot imagine the emotional stress this will bring upon the female child. On this part, I would like to explore the possible painful experiences of these young females forced into marriages by the very people who are supposed to protect them – their parents (Mekonnen and Aspen 1002). I focus only on “females” because according to research, early-age marriages usually involve young brides and older grooms (Alemu 5) especially if the reason is for the bride's family to have one mouth less to feed, and in exchange for gifts from the groom and his family. In my social interactions with friends and families, I have always appreciated how the maturity of parents helps a lot in serving as a guide path for the children. I have witnessed several family issues turned into better situations because of a healthy and mature relationship between the father and the mother. I do know too, and have witnessed first-hand, how an unhealthy relationship between a father and a mother affects children negatively. This is why the emotional stage of the child-brides strikes me as a very important aspect to focus on. A mentally distressed, or traumatized, or even depressed child cannot be considered a fit mother, since she is not even able to take care of her own self for two reasons: 1) being too young; and 2) being under mental stress. According to the National Institute of Mental Health and Unicef, most people reach mental maturity at around 25 years of age. If females as young as 11 like Nibret in “Young Wives' Tales” (Metcalf, Uter, and Marlow) get married, how easy will it be for them to understand the tough responsibilities of marital life? According to Unicef, people between 18-24 are even considered as unprepared for the emotional responsibilities that go along with marriage (“Early Marriage” 7). I cannot begin to imagine the hardships that these female brides must go through in dealing with her husband's family, much more when a baby comes along. Even if we say that such difficulties are usual in most marriages, the lack of experience in young people makes this situation more stressful. It is good for the young Americans to see the realities of such emotional hardships in early-age marriages for them to know the weight of making such decisions. Most females in early-age marriages are forced to stop schooling, making household responsibilities the new priority instead of personal development. The childhood that she should be enjoying now gives way to another, and a lot heavier, role (Mekonnen and Aspen 1003). The ironic thing here is that in Ethiopia, these scenarios are normal, and these young brides seem to have no choice other than to accept their fate. The younger generation in the U.S. should not take for granted their capacity to choose their own lives and to decide for their own selves. Sometimes, the freedom we have in our hands become so common that the responsibility that should come along with this freedom is given no importance. Mental Problems in Early-Age Marriages In the U.S., education is almost not a question. Even if there are out-of-school youths, the severity of the case is definitely not the same as that in Ethiopia. While young people in Ethiopia can only hope for at least a brand new textbook, U.S. students put “idle moment doodles” on the pages. Furthermore, young females in Ethiopia can only hope to finish at least secondary education. Most actually do not even finish elementary. They are already sent off to their husbands. Schooling, at this stage, is no longer an option not only due to poverty, but also due to the new responsibilities of marital life. It is said that adolescent girls in Ethiopia, especially those from rural areas, have almost zero opportunities for a complete education (Metcalf, Uter, and Marlow). Studies conducted among young girls aged 10-18 show that early-age marriage and poor school attendance were widespread (Mekonnen and Aspen 1002). These kids are not given the opportunity to develop themselves, and possibly change the fate of their children, in such situations. I remember watching a subtitled narrative from a child-bride who shyly voices out her sentiments and regrets for her lack of self-fulfillment and her feeling of hopelessness in her situation (Metcalf, Uter, and Marlow). All these feelings are present in the young girl at the age of 15. It is heartbreaking to see how common such hopelessness is among these young girls who are forced in early-age marriages. I even begin to wonder if there are actually fulfilled and happy females in that part of the world. Traditions and culture vary by region. Sometimes, it may be tough for “outsiders” to understand how some people are able to live their lives around a certain tradition that others find ridiculous or even a violation of human rights. But aside from feeling sorry for these people, and aside from wanting to support stopping early-age marriages in those regions, we should also look inside us and see what we want for them...that we already have. How is it that we feel so strongly about these young girls earning their rights as females and humans, when we ourselves neglect this jewel that is already in our hands. Physical, emotional, and mental problems will be lessened if marriages are delayed. That is already a fact proven by many studies. It is good to not only fight for Ethiopians' rights in international debates and movements, but to also value, and act according to, that right that we already have. Works Cited Alemu, Bogalech. “Early Marriage in Ethiopia: Causes and Health Consequences.” Exchange on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality and Gender (2008): 4-6. Print. Early Marriage: Child Spouses. Florence, Italy: Unicef Innocenti Research Centre, 2001. Print. Gossaye, Yegomawork, Negussie Deyessa, Yemane Berhane, Mary Ellsberg, Maria Emmelin, Meaza Ashenafi, Atalay Alem, Alemayehu Negash, Derege Kebede, Gunnar Kullgren, and Ulf Hogberg. “Women's Health and Life Events Study in Rural Ethiopia.” Butajira Rural Health Program. Spec. issue of Ethiopian Journal of Health Development 17.2 (2003): 2-46. Web. 7 Mar. 2012. International Center for Research on Women. How to End Child Marriage: Action Strategies for Prevention and Protection. n.p., 2007. Print. Mekonnen, Berihun, and Harald Aspen. “Early Marriage and the Campaign against It in Ethiopia.” Proceedings of the 16th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies. 2009. Print. Metcalf, Charlotte, Elizabeth Uter, and Emily Marlow. Young Wives' Tales. Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, 1998. Print. Read More