Peer-reviewed article
Qualitative Inquiry of Contexts and Lived Patterns of Child Marriage from the Point of View Young Women
Hossein Afrasiabi, Hanie Mansouri Khosravi, Maryam Baarluoei ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of 13 young women aged 14-27 in rural Yazd province, Iran, who were married before age 18. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, the researchers identified eight themes characterizing early marriage experiences, including cultural patriarchy, normalization of early marriage, rural challenges, symbolic transition to adulthood, dissatisfaction, social exclusion, and educational deprioritization. The study found that cultural and family emphasis on marriage as a norm is the primary factor driving acceptance of early marriage among girls in this context.
Key points
- Eight primary themes defined experiences of girls entering early marriages: cultural patriarchy, early marriage as societal norm, rural challenges, symbolic adulthood transition, dissatisfaction accumulation, social exclusion, and education non-priority
- Cultural emphasis by families on prioritizing marriage over other outcomes is identified as the primary factor contributing to acceptance of early marriage
- Study population comprised 13 female participants aged 14-27 years in a village in Yazd province who were married before age 18
- Early marriage persists particularly in less populated and rural regions despite shifts in lifestyle and marital patterns
- The decision to marry is understood within cultural and social contexts rather than as individual choice
Limitations
The study uses a small sample of 13 participants from a single village in one Iranian province, limiting generalizability to other rural or urban contexts. As a qualitative study, it does not provide quantitative data on prevalence, demographic patterns, or comparative analysis across regions.
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.