More Than 200,000 Children Married in US Over the Last 15 Years
Femalista,
March 14, 2018
At least
100,000 children are prostituted annually in the U.S., adding to the $9.8
billion U.S. sex trafficking industry. Children all over the country are
subject to physical and sexual abuse, and most of the time it happens a lot
closer to home than we would expect. Ninety percent of child sexual abuse
victims know the perpetrator, and an astonishing 68% are abused by family
members.
100,000 children are prostituted annually in the U.S., adding to the $9.8
billion U.S. sex trafficking industry. Children all over the country are
subject to physical and sexual abuse, and most of the time it happens a lot
closer to home than we would expect. Ninety percent of child sexual abuse
victims know the perpetrator, and an astonishing 68% are abused by family
members.
What’s
worse, some of the laws surrounding child sexual abuse and child marriage (or
lack thereof) actually enable their practice. As a result, more than 200,000
children in the U.S. were married in the past 15 years alone. We often view
child marriage as only being an issue in third-world countries, but in reality,
it occurs right here in North America, too. Children as young as 10 have been
married to far older adults, despite the legal requirement to wed being 18, or
legal adulthood, nationwide.
worse, some of the laws surrounding child sexual abuse and child marriage (or
lack thereof) actually enable their practice. As a result, more than 200,000
children in the U.S. were married in the past 15 years alone. We often view
child marriage as only being an issue in third-world countries, but in reality,
it occurs right here in North America, too. Children as young as 10 have been
married to far older adults, despite the legal requirement to wed being 18, or
legal adulthood, nationwide.
In May,
the high-profile Republican governor for New Jersey declined to sign into law a
measure that would have made his state the first to ban child marriage without
exception. Chris Christie claimed it would conflict with religious customs.
the high-profile Republican governor for New Jersey declined to sign into law a
measure that would have made his state the first to ban child marriage without
exception. Chris Christie claimed it would conflict with religious customs.
Fraidy
Reiss, the founder of Unchained at Last, said she was “literally shaking” when
she first obtained data for New Jersey, where her group is based.
Reiss, the founder of Unchained at Last, said she was “literally shaking” when
she first obtained data for New Jersey, where her group is based.
Nearly
3,500 children married in the state between 1995 and 2012.
3,500 children married in the state between 1995 and 2012.
“That
number was so much higher than I had thought it would be,” she told Frontline.
“Then, the fact that the children were as young as 13 and the fact that it was
mostly girls married to adult men.”
number was so much higher than I had thought it would be,” she told Frontline.
“Then, the fact that the children were as young as 13 and the fact that it was
mostly girls married to adult men.”
Eight-seven
per cent of the minors who married across the country between 2000 and 2015
were girls, with the majority either 16 or 17.
per cent of the minors who married across the country between 2000 and 2015
were girls, with the majority either 16 or 17.
The
youngest wedded were three 10-year-old girls in Tennessee who married men aged
24, 25 and 31 in 2001. The youngest groom was an 11-year-old who married a
27-year-old woman in the same state in 2006.
youngest wedded were three 10-year-old girls in Tennessee who married men aged
24, 25 and 31 in 2001. The youngest groom was an 11-year-old who married a
27-year-old woman in the same state in 2006.
Children
as young as 12 were granted marriage licences in Alaska, Louisiana and South
Carolina, while 11 other states allowed 13-year-olds to wed.
as young as 12 were granted marriage licences in Alaska, Louisiana and South
Carolina, while 11 other states allowed 13-year-olds to wed.
Child
brides usually come from poor backgrounds, said Dr Nicholas Syrett, author of
American Child Bride.
brides usually come from poor backgrounds, said Dr Nicholas Syrett, author of
American Child Bride.
He added:
“Almost all the evidence indicates that girls in cities don’t get married
young, that girls from middle class or wealthy families, don’t get married
young. This is a rural phenomenon and it is a phenomenon of poverty.”
“Almost all the evidence indicates that girls in cities don’t get married
young, that girls from middle class or wealthy families, don’t get married
young. This is a rural phenomenon and it is a phenomenon of poverty.”
The bill
vetoed by Mr Christie in May had already been approved by both houses of the
legislature and would have made New Jersey the first state to outlaw child
marriage.
vetoed by Mr Christie in May had already been approved by both houses of the
legislature and would have made New Jersey the first state to outlaw child
marriage.
He said
it should have an exception so a judge can approve marriages for 16- and
17-year-olds, and the measure could still become law if the legislators
resubmit the bill with his recommended changes.
it should have an exception so a judge can approve marriages for 16- and
17-year-olds, and the measure could still become law if the legislators
resubmit the bill with his recommended changes.
Last
month New York banned children aged under 17 from marrying. Previously minors
as young as 14 were allowed to wed under state law providing they obtained
parental and court permission.
month New York banned children aged under 17 from marrying. Previously minors
as young as 14 were allowed to wed under state law providing they obtained
parental and court permission.
