Must every relationship end up in marriage?
Marriage is supposed to be an agreement between two persons. Nowadays some marriages are forced. One partner may be willing while the other may not be. The willing partner will device all foul means to achieve his/her aim. Just yesterday a teenage girl of about 16 years in my neighbourhood ran away from home because the parents were forcing her to marry a 45 years old divorcée. This story is one among many in Africa.
Teenagers are forced into marriage daily in Africa. Most of these girls suffer on-told hardships in their married life.
The major causes of this trend are poverty and illiteracy. Most of these families live in abject poverty, so they see giving their daughters out in marriage as a good way to reducing their burden. The family size is usually big, as most of them do not control birth. Their lean resources definitely cannot sustain them. So the only way out is to get rid of the girls through marriage.
The only solution here is family planning and education. The families should control their births and also make girl child education compulsory. But who will bail the cat judging from the high level of economic melt down and official corruption by African politicians. It is not that Africa and other third world countries do not have the resources but, those resources are mismanaged by greedy and selfish politicians. To address this problem, poverty must be eradicated or better still reduced before any headway is made.
Another major challenge in solving this problem is religion. Some religions believe that as early as when a girl child starts her menstrual cycle is the right time to give her out in marriage. So a lot is still needed to be done in order to change the mindset of these particular people.
All eyes are still on donor agencies to help save this generation. Through aid, awareness etc.
Marriage is supposed to be an agreement between two persons. Nowadays some marriages are forced. One partner may be willing while the other may not be. The willing partner will device all foul means to achieve his/her aim. Just yesterday a teenage girl of about 16 years in my neighbourhood ran away from home because the parents were forcing her to marry a 45 years old divorcée. This story is one among many in Africa.
Teenagers are forced into marriage daily in Africa. Most of these girls suffer on-told hardships in their married life.
The major causes of this trend are poverty and illiteracy. Most of these families live in abject poverty, so they see giving their daughters out in marriage as a good way to reducing their burden. The family size is usually big, as most of them do not control birth. Their lean resources definitely cannot sustain them. So the only way out is to get rid of the girls through marriage.
The only solution here is family planning and education. The families should control their births and also make girl child education compulsory. But who will bail the cat judging from the high level of economic melt down and official corruption by African politicians. It is not that Africa and other third world countries do not have the resources but, those resources are mismanaged by greedy and selfish politicians. To address this problem, poverty must be eradicated or better still reduced before any headway is made.
Another major challenge in solving this problem is religion. Some religions believe that as early as when a girl child starts her menstrual cycle is the right time to give her out in marriage. So a lot is still needed to be done in order to change the mindset of these particular people.
All eyes are still on donor agencies to help save this generation. Through aid, awareness etc.
