Early Marriage in Eastern and Southeastern parts of Turkey Solution Paper 2
Early Marriage in Eastern and Southeastern Regions of Turkey Solution Paper For Eng102
Ali Tunçgenç, Çelebi Murat, Öyküm Çağıltay
Özyeğin University
May, 2014
Table of Contents
Table of Contents 2
Problem Statement 3
Problem Analysis 3
Consequences 4
Projects Against Child Marriage 6
Evaluation 7
References 9
Problem Statement
Focus of this paper is mostly on child brides rather than child grooms, because child brides are more common than child grooms. This kind of marriage hinders women’s standing in society and causes women to be seen as an object instead of a human being. Causes of early marriage can be listed as; imposing and patriarchal society, social values and traditions, poverty, unemployment. But the most important reason is lack of education. First, let’s look at the concept of “child bride”. According to Turkish Civil Law, a bride under the age of 17 is a child bride but according to UNICEF “Child marriage is defined as a formal marriage or informal union entered into by an individual before reaching the age of 18.” (p.35). Of course marriage in this concept is not a legal marriage, what is meant by marriage is a religious marriage.
Problem Analysis
Depending upon the analysis of the Kamer foundation, in the east and southeast part of Turkey 1 in every 3 girl is forced to marriage under the age of 18. (2014) The problem with child marriages derives from law or the lack of it. The percentage of religious marriage is 21.3 percent in villages (2012).
Early marriage isn’t protected by law and legally doesn’t exist; however, in rural areas a religious marriage is seen as legitimate as a legal marriage. These religious rules allow marriage at an age as early as nine (Milliyet, 2013). This paves the way for child marriage and they are the main notions that support early marriage.
Economic reasons play a significant part in early marriage. Trade of cattle for a woman is a common process, which is called bride price, and
Ali Tunçgenç, Çelebi Murat, Öyküm Çağıltay
Özyeğin University
May, 2014
Table of Contents
Table of Contents 2
Problem Statement 3
Problem Analysis 3
Consequences 4
Projects Against Child Marriage 6
Evaluation 7
References 9
Problem Statement
Focus of this paper is mostly on child brides rather than child grooms, because child brides are more common than child grooms. This kind of marriage hinders women’s standing in society and causes women to be seen as an object instead of a human being. Causes of early marriage can be listed as; imposing and patriarchal society, social values and traditions, poverty, unemployment. But the most important reason is lack of education. First, let’s look at the concept of “child bride”. According to Turkish Civil Law, a bride under the age of 17 is a child bride but according to UNICEF “Child marriage is defined as a formal marriage or informal union entered into by an individual before reaching the age of 18.” (p.35). Of course marriage in this concept is not a legal marriage, what is meant by marriage is a religious marriage.
Problem Analysis
Depending upon the analysis of the Kamer foundation, in the east and southeast part of Turkey 1 in every 3 girl is forced to marriage under the age of 18. (2014) The problem with child marriages derives from law or the lack of it. The percentage of religious marriage is 21.3 percent in villages (2012).
Early marriage isn’t protected by law and legally doesn’t exist; however, in rural areas a religious marriage is seen as legitimate as a legal marriage. These religious rules allow marriage at an age as early as nine (Milliyet, 2013). This paves the way for child marriage and they are the main notions that support early marriage.
Economic reasons play a significant part in early marriage. Trade of cattle for a woman is a common process, which is called bride price, and
References: http://www.bianet.org/bianet/toplumsal-cinsiyet/152810-dogu-ve-guneydogu-da-her-uc-kadindan-biri-cocuk-gelin (2014) http://www.egitisim.gen.tr/site/arsiv/73-33/664-cocuk-gelin-sorunu.html (2012) http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkce/haberler/140116_canli_cocuk_yasta_evlilik.shtml (2014) http://www.bianet.org/bianet/toplumsal-cinsiyet/152810-dogu-ve-guneydogu-da-her-uc-kadindan-biri-cocuk-gelin (2014) http://www.haberler.com/siirt-te-cocuk-gelinin-supheli-olumu-5534640-haberi/ (2014) http://www.turkmetaldergi.com/Erken-yasta-evlilik-nedenleri-ve-cozum-onerileri_makale_53.html (2014) http://www.milliyet.com.tr/islam-cocuk-yasta-evliligi-yasaklar/gundem/detay/1743292/default.htm (2013) http://www.marchofdimes.com/materials/teenage-pregnancy.pdf (2012) http://www.ucansupurge.org/turkce/index2.php?Id=39 (2011) http://www.kamer.org.tr/icerik_detay.php?id=179 (2013) http://www.sabancivakfi.org/sayfa/erken-yasta-evlilik-kaderimiz-olmasin (2013)