Child Brides - Tradition or State Sanctioned Rape?

[sweetcali]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I found this article on CNN this morning about a 12-year old girl who died from internal bleeding after the consummation of her marriage to a person at least twice her age.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/...ex.html?hpt=T2


I am naturally pretty sickened by this.

I am wondering if other folks feel that this is a form of state-sanctioned rape or if our experiences as Americans cause us to look at the tradition of "forced marriage" or "child brides" this way instead of as the traditions belonging to another country.
I am thinking about some of the "child bride" issues we have going on in our own country with the LDS folks and some other religious sects and thinking that at least in America, I would view this as an issue of rape.

This question might also tie in with the practice of female genital mutilation and how we view it here as opposed to how its viewed in the countries it is practiced in.

Curious about people's thoughts on this.

I read that article too Medusa, Every aspect of it makes me sick. I find these practices not only sickening but frightening. It doesn't just happen in what we call the underdeveloped parts of the world it happens everywhere. I have lived, worked and vacationed all over the world. I can remember many many practices directed towards young girls when I was a young girl and being absolutely horrified.


I think before one becomes totally judgemental though one also has to understand the cultural aspects of the area in which this “____” fill in the blank is practiced. I don't agree with the practices nor do I condone them. In fact they make me sick, angry and well just plumb fired up. I do not believe any human being should be treated in this manner especially a young girl or young boy.

I get and understand cultural belief systems. I have always been fascinated by them and have always tried to learn about them and if possible to visit the area just to get a better understanding. Well when I was able to travel that is what I did. Now I just read and ask a lot of questions.

Now as I have stated I do and understand the cultural beliefs that enable these primitive practices I don't belief in them. I find them to be barbaric, abusive and inhumane. When I was able to I was very involved in several groups that assisted these young girls. We helped them to escape, we educated, anyway we tried as many different ways as we could possibly come up with the help to reeducate the communities and the biggest hurdle of all was the belief system of that particular culture.
The are in which we live in very culturally diverse. One of my heathens best friends is from India. Her father dominates everything this child does. This young girl whom just turned 13 is the oldest of the children. She is responsible for all of the younger ones and the house work. She also is rarely allowed out away from the home to visit a friend by herself. Last week she was allowed to attend my heathens birthday party. I could tell that there had been quite a discussion that had taken place before she was allowed to come. Her father came into the establishment, scoped everyone and everything out, and talked with Mike and I about her return home. Now, what was interesting is that her father was not satisfied until her father had spoken with Mike. What I found sad about this day was that this little girl and her family will be moving back to India this summer. Why? Because the oldest daughter is now 13 and her father wants her to find a husband in India. I am also sure that if it hasn't been done already that she will suffer a clitorectomy. She is not allowed to come up the street to our house because we are too American. I have tried to have discussions; however Daddy isn't going to allow any outside education of cultural ways.

I find it very sad that even in our own nation we are allowing these practices. The hardest hurdle of all of these practices is breaking the belief system that tells them this is “The Right Way”. What I have found in working with others in this capacity is not just educating, but helping to move beyond the fear. Fear that nasty nasty nasty drug.

Sweetcali

(I hope this made some kind of sense as my chemo brain cells have not all recovered. Chocolate helps though.)