Ibrahim Badawood
Underage marriages are a social issue that has received much attention, regionally and globally. Some people believe that the age of marriage for girls should be set while others do not. In this article, I would like to discuss teenage boys whose families encourage them to get married. Of course, the financial condition of families is one of the reasons why underage marriages take place. Social traditions and norms are among some of the other reasons.
Let me clarify traditions and norms. Some parents encourage their underage sons to get married to their cousins because they themselves married in this way. Some families make their underage sons marry girls from certain families to strengthen relationships between families.
I recently read a news story about a middle school student aged around 16 who handed out invitations to his wedding to classmates and teachers. The father said it was his son’s idea to get married at this age and that he never forced his son to do so. The father even said his son insisted and that he had no choice but to succumb to his demands. It was the father who paid for the wedding expenses, the furniture and other related costs.
Getting married at such a young age has advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that it prevents youth from going astray and engaging in illicit relationships with the opposite sex. Another advantage is that there will be no big difference in age between parents and their children.
As for the disadvantages, they can be summed up in the following points. Firstly, the husband and wife are not old enough to shoulder the responsibility of parenthood and take care of their children. Secondly, the wife might suffer psychologically as a result of an early pregnancy. At this young age, both husband and wife are not emotionally and physically mature. Thirdly, the young wife will be deprived of her right to complete her education.
Therefore, parents are responsible for educating their children and helping them make the right decision. Early marriage can be sheer bliss that can build a strong family or a real curse that can lead to big problems that can end up in court. Children are always the victims.
