Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Authors

• Hossein Afrasiabi ¹
• Hanie Mansouri Khosravi ²
• Maryam Baarluoei ²

¹ Department of Social Sciences, Yazd university, Yazd, Iran.

² Department of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

Abstract

Despite shifts in lifestyle and marital patterns, the practice of early marriage or child marriage persists, particularly in less populated and rural regions. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the lived experiences of adolescent females who enter into early marriages. The chosen approach to study is qualitative, employing the basic qualitative research method. The study included a sample of female participants aged 14 to 27 years residing in a village in the Yazd province. These individuals were married before the age of 18 and were selected for inclusion in the study using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. In order to gather data, a total of 13 female participants were engaged in semi-structured interviews. Subsequently, the data was subjected to thematic analysis methodology. During the analysis, it was found that eight primary themes can be used to define the experience of girls who enter into early marriages. These themes include cultural patriarchy, the prevalence of early marriage as a societal norm, challenges specific to rural areas, the symbolic transition into adulthood, the accumulation of dissatisfaction, social exclusion, and a non-priority of education. The primary factor contributing to the acceptance of early marriage among young girls as a social norm is the cultural emphasis placed by families on prioritizing marriage. The decision to enter into marriage can be understood and interpreted within the framework of cultural and social contexts.

Keywords

• child marriage
• early marriage
• marriage

Main Subjects

• marriage