Do Higher Education Levels Correlate with Delayed Marriage in Women?

• A woman with more than 11 years of formal education typically gets married around the age of 23, while those with less than five years of education often marry around the age of 16.
• The data also indicates noticeable differences in the average ages of marriage between Dalit and upper-caste women, as well as between rural and urban women.
• Persistent societal issues such as the dowry system, poverty, and caste prejudices continue to significantly influence the variations in girls’ marriage ages.

Factors Contributing to Early Marriage in Indian Girls:

• Poverty is a primary cause of early marriage.
• Societal norms suggesting that a woman’s main source of financial security is her marriage.
• Beliefs associated with fertility and societal expectations.
• Lack of education.
• The misguided notion that safeguarding daughters from societal harm takes precedence over protecting an unmarried woman’s rights.

The Consequences of Early Marriages:

• Health complications : Late adolescence (15–19 years) requires high nutritional intake. Many teenage girls suffer from various forms of malnutrition, including chronic energy deficiency, iron deficiency, and micronutrient deficiency.
• Marriage and childbirth during adolescence can further deplete their already low nutritional reserves, leading to stunting in children and increased susceptibility to various diseases.
• Mental health implications : From a psychological perspective, women who were married as children are more likely to experience PTSD and related symptoms.
• Restricted educational opportunities : Marriage severely limits a girl’s access to education.
• Domestic violence : According to the International Council of Research on Women (ICRW), women with low levels of education and those married between the ages of 15 and 19 are more likely to experience domestic violence than older, more educated women.

Factors Influencing Changing Marriage Trends :

• Reduction in maternal deaths : Increasing the minimum marriage age for girls will, in the short term, lead to more girls enrolling in college and, in the long term, provide them with more opportunities to become financially independent.
• Improved health outcomes : Delaying the age of marriage could benefit both women’s overall development and children’s health, as children born to young mothers often face health complications.
• Women’s health : Raising the marriage age could reduce mortality rates and disorders like anemia among women. (Anemia can be particularly dangerous for young mothers)
• Greater opportunities : Increasing the legal marriage age for women will empower them with more rights and legal protection, allowing them to pursue education and personal growth before entering into marriage and parenthood.
• Increased labour force participation : By raising the marriageable age, India could significantly increase its labour force. The proportion of women in India's labour force is currently significantly lower than the global average.

Conclusion

The issue of child marriage in India is complex and deeply rooted in caste hierarchies, poverty, and societal norms. Despite advancements in education and women’s empowerment, significant challenges remain. Addressing the problem of child marriage requires a comprehensive strategy that tackles the underlying societal and economic conditions that perpetuate this practice.