Into the World of Child Marriage: A Phenomenology

This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of 17 adolescent girls aged 15–19 who are in child marriages in Cotabato City, Philippines. Despite the 2021 anti-child marriage law, the practice continues, driven by cultural traditions and religious beliefs, particularly among Muslim communities. The study documents the socioeconomic hardships, cultural pressures, and challenges of early motherhood that these girls face, as well as their coping mechanisms.

Key points

• Child marriage continues to be practiced in the Philippines despite the 2021 Anti-Child Marriage Law, often unreported due to fear of legal consequences
• Cultural traditions and religious beliefs, particularly the desire to maintain a 'halal' relationship, are primary drivers of child marriage in Muslim communities
• Child brides face multiple challenges including socioeconomic hardship, societal and cultural pressures, and the burdens of early motherhood
• The previous Presidential Decree 1083 exempted Muslim and Indigenous Peoples communities from the legal minimum marriage age of eighteen, contributing to the persistence of the practice
• The study documents adolescents' personal reflections and coping mechanisms for managing their experiences as child brides

Limitations

This is a qualitative phenomenological study based on interviews with 17 adolescents in one city; it cannot quantify the prevalence of child marriage in the Philippines or establish causal relationships between cultural factors and the practice. The study does not compare experiences across different communities or measure the impact of the 2021 law on reducing child marriage rates.