This study delves into the transformative impact of the "Zewar-e-Taleem Program", a targeted conditional cash transfer initiative aimed at enhancing female literacy in underprivileged districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Using data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement survey (district level) for the years 2019-20, the study seeks to assess how this program influenced female enrollment rates in public schools, as well as the age at which adolescent girls enter into marriage in these districts. The findings of the study are both noteworthy and encouraging. Specifically, the research indicates that the "Zewar-e-Taleem Program" has resulted in an increase in female enrollment in schools. Additionally, the program has contributed to a substantial decrease in adolescent girls' age of marriage compared to a control group. These results underscore the effectiveness of targeted cash transfer programs as a tool for promoting social change and gender equality in developing countries.
Abstract This article addresses the dilemmas and compromises in legal practice around the issue of child marriage in Indonesia. Although the government set development goals that include ending child marriage and complying with human rights standard, it is facing considerable resistance. We researched the state legal system and law in practice to understand this resistance, finding that: (1) law-making in family law involves conflict between progressive and conservative ideas; (2) consequently there is friction within current family law and laws regarding human rights; (3) judges use their discretion to achieve compromises between state laws and local norms; and (4) state law is creatively interpreted and applied at village level. The resistance at all these levels, arising from the religious concerns of conservative Muslims in a rapidly modernizing Indonesian society, is a formidable obstacle for the government to achieve its development goals. Adolescent sexuality is at the heart of these tensions.
According to BKKBN, early marriage is a marriage that occurs before the child is 21 years old for women and before 25 years for men, at which age the health and psychological conditions are immature. Early marriage can cause health risks for mothers and babies born, psychological risks, social risks and even high rates of early marriage can negatively risk economic growth and a country's ability to alleviate poverty. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between adolescent knowledge about the risk of early marriage and the desire to do early marriage. This research method is quantitative correlation with cross sectional approach. The sample was taken using the purposive sampling method with a total of 137 respondents in grade X students at SMAN 1 Banguntapan Bantul. The tool in this study was a questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed univariately and bivariately. Based on the level of knowledge about the risks of early marriage, most adolescents have good knowledge as many as 132 people (96.4%) and based on the desire to do early marriage, most adolescents do not want to do early marriage as many as 135 people (98.5%). The results of the chi square analysis obtained a value of p-value = 0.001 (p-value = <0.05) with a correlation coefficient value of 0.625 or in the strong category (0.6-0.799). It was concluded that there is a relationship between adolescent knowledge about the risks of early marriage and the desire to marry early. The suggestion for midwives of Banguntapan 1 Health Center is to maintain cooperation with SMA N 1 Banguntapan Bantul in providing education to students, especially emphasized the social risks of early marriage
Early marriage is an ongoing phenomenon and is becoming more prevalent. The lack of public knowledge and lack of awareness of early child marriage leaves children deeply traumatized. More than 1 million (1.2 million) women aged 20-24 were married for the first time before the age of 18. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the causal characteristics of child marriage in Indonesia. The method used in this study was a systematic review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) rules. The literature search was performed across multiple journal sites or online articles such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct by entering the keywords 'Determinants of child marriage AND Indonesia'. There is a prevalent belief among parents and youth is that marrying off young girls preserves family honor. Additionally, poverty and economic instability make child marriage more socially acceptable. Other contributing factors include limited access to education and societal norms that promote marriage after puberty and within the same ethnic group. Despite existing laws regulating the minimum age for marriage, enforcement remains problematic. The review of nine articles indicated that child marriage in Indonesia is influenced by beliefs, limited access to education, culture, environmental factors, and gaps in legal enforcement.
Zulfa Zuhriyyah Ayudiputri, Anisa Afianti Nur, Siska Amanda et al.
The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.tandfebooks.com/doi/view/10.4324/9781315180250, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license Adolescence is a pivotal time in a girl's life. The development of educational, physical, psychosocial, familial, political and economic capabilities enable girls to reach their full potential and contribute to the wellbeing of their families and society. However, progress is still significantly constrained by discriminatory gender norms and the related attitudes and practices which restrict girls’ horizons, restrain their ambition and, if unfettered, allow exploitation and abuse. Empowering Adolescent Girls in Developing Countries explores the detrimental impact of discriminatory gender norms on adolescent girls’ lives across very different contexts. Grounded in four years of in-depth research in Ethiopia, Nepal, Uganda and Viet Nam, the book adopts a holistic approach, recognising the inter-related nature of capabilities and the importance of local context. By exploring the theory of gendered norm change, contextualising and examining socialisation processes, the book identifies the patriarchal vested interests in power, authority and moral privilege, which combine in attempts to restrict and control girls’ lives. Throughout the book, Empowering Adolescent Girls in Developing Countries demonstrates how efforts to develop more egalitarian gender norms can enable disadvantaged adolescent girls to change the course of their lives and contribute to societal change. Accessible and informative, the book is perfect for policy makers, think tanks, NGOs, activists, academics and students of gender and development studies.
Child marriage remains a persistent global issue, including in Indonesia and Australia. Despite legal frameworks that set a minimum age for marriage, the practice persists due to loopholes, socio-cultural factors, and weak enforcement. This study adopts a comparative legal approach by analysing statutory regulations, court decisions, and relevant academic literature within the contexts of Islamic law, Indonesian law, and Australian law. Findings reveal that the challenges in regulating child marriage are not purely juridical but are significantly influenced by psychosocial conditions. In Indonesia, the prevalence of marriage dispensations and cultural norms that tolerate early marriage creates a tension between legal norms and social realities. In contrast, Australia, while having a stronger legal framework and a relatively low prevalence, still allows dispensations for those aged 16–17 and faces cases of forced marriage within migrant communities, compounded by limited national data. The study’s contribution lies in demonstrating the importance of a legal-psychosocial perspective for understanding and addressing child marriage regulation. Protecting children’s rights, therefore, requires not only normative reforms but also comprehensive social interventions that address underlying cultural and structural drivers.
Imron Rosyadi, Muchlis Muchlis, Tajul Arifin et al.
Despite legislation outlawing child marriage in Kyrgyzstan in 2017, the practice continues today. Early marriage is driven by social norms around religion, honor, financial stability, and restrictive gender roles. Participatory research activities were implemented with 12 adolescents in Kyrgyzstan Osh and the rural town of Chuy. Activities explored the perceptions of male and female youth around early marriage, gender norms, the consequences and benefits of marriage, and their autonomy in deciding who and when to wed. Responses from adolescents in the study were analyzed for themes by gender to reveal patterns in social norms around early marriage in Kyrgyzstan. Data showed that adolescents overwhelmingly did not support early marriage and expressed anxiety, shame, or concern about this topic. Interventions to prevent early marriage in Kyrgyzstan should advocate for girls’ education and career opportunities and raise family and community awareness about the harms of child marriage.
Adolescence is a transition period from childhood to adulthood to find identity. At this time there is a feeling of wanting to try new things. Early marriage is a marriage of a couple aged 19 years or can be categorized as adolescences. One of the serious problems faced by developing countries including Indonesia. The impacts of early marriage include low birth weight, spontaneous abortion, anemia and can cause defects in babies. This happens because the reproductive organs are not physiologically mature. This study aimed to determine the correlation between reproductive health knowledge and adolescent attitudes towards the perception of early marriage. This was correlation quantitative research with Cross-sectional approach. The population of this assessment was female adolescents at SMKN 1 Kademangan class XI. The sample was taken using the simple random sampling technique and obtained 48 respondents. The data analysis used Spearman rank. The research instrument used a questionnaire. From the study, it was found that there was a correlation between reproductive health knowledge and adolescent attitudes towards the perception of early marriage. Knowledge is one of the factors that can determine adolescents' attitudes towards perceptions of early marriage. Reproductive health education needs to be given to adolescents, especially female adolescents, to form attitudes and change perceptions of early marriage.
Background: Early marriage, affecting one in five girls globally, is a critical human rights and developmental issue. While its detrimental effects on health and education are well-documented, its impact on adolescent personality development—a period crucial for identity formation, autonomy, and emotional regulation—remains an understudied area. This review addresses this gap by synthesizing evidence on how early marriage influences the psychosocial and personality trajectories of girls. Objectives: This review aims to synthesize recent empirical evidence on the impact of early marriage on girls' personality development, identify the key mechanisms underlying this relationship, highlight critical evidence gaps, and propose directions for future research and policy. Methods: A targeted narrative review was conducted using peer-reviewed literature from 2019 to 2025, sourced from databases including PubMed, BMC journals, The Lancet, and UNICEF evidence reviews. The search focused on studies measuring psychosocial and personality-relevant outcomes such as self-efficacy, autonomy, mental health, and identity. A thematic synthesis was performed, prioritizing longitudinal and mixed-methods studies where available. Findings: The synthesis reveals that early marriage adversely affects personality development through multiple interconnected pathways: (1) Educational interruption, which constrains identity exploration and limits the development of traits like openness and conscientiousness; (2) Reduced autonomy and agency, hindering the formation of an independent self-concept and internal locus of control; (3) Elevated mental health vulnerabilities, including depression and anxiety, which shape emotional stability and neuroticism; and (4) Exposure to intimate partner violence and trauma, which alters interpersonal trust, coping strategies, and stress regulation. While evidence for these indirect pathways is strong, a direct measurement of personality trait change is scarce due to methodological limitations. Conclusion: Early marriage is a significant social determinant that disrupts normative personality development by truncating adolescence and exposing girls to environments that stifle psychosocial growth. The findings underscore that the consequences extend beyond physical health and economics to the core psychological development of individuals. Implication: There is an urgent need for holistic interventions that integrate psychosocial support with existing efforts to delay marriage and keep girls in school. Future research must employ longitudinal designs with culturally adapted personality measures to establish causality and track trait-level changes, informing more effective policies to safeguard girls' developmental potential.
Child marriage remains a significant social issue in Bangladesh, affecting millions of young girls and hindering their potential. Defined as a marriage where at least one party is below the age of 18, this practice disproportionately impacts girls, limiting their access to education, economic opportunities, and health services. Key drivers of child marriage include poverty, cultural norms, and inadequate enforcement of legal frameworks. Despite legislative measures like the Child Marriage Restraint Act (2017) and government initiatives such as the National Action Plan to End Child Marriage (2018–2030), challenges persist due to societal resistance, economic barriers, and gaps in implementation. This article explores the causes and consequences of child marriage, emphasizing its health, educational, and economic impacts on individuals and society. The paper also evaluates the effectiveness of existing interventions and highlights the need for community engagement, improved law enforcement, and economic support for vulnerable families. By addressing these issues, Bangladesh can progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5.3, which aims to eliminate harmful practices, including child marriage. The findings underscore the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and innovative solutions, such as conditional cash transfers and community-led awareness programs, in combating this deep-rooted practice.
