Child Marriage in the United States

This peer-reviewed article examines child marriage in the United States through the case of Sara Tasneem, who was married at age fifteen by her father to a twenty-eight-year-old man selected by religious leaders. The case illustrates how child marriage occurs within conservative religious communities in the US, with parental consent overriding the child's agency or understanding of the situation. The article highlights the lack of preparation, consent, and protection for the child in such arrangements.

Key points

• Sara was married at age 15 to a 28-year-old stranger
• Her father consented to the marriage on her behalf without her meaningful participation
• The marriage was arranged by religious leaders within a conservative Muslim sect
• Sara was not given information about what would happen to her after the marriage
• Child marriage occurs within religious and cultural communities in the United States

Limitations

This excerpt presents only a single case study and does not provide prevalence data, comparative analysis, or evaluation of interventions to prevent child marriage in the US. The document cannot tell us the scope of child marriage in the US, legal frameworks, or effectiveness of any prevention or support measures.