Child Brides - Tradition or State Sanctioned Rape?

[Toughy]

Concerning the topic of this thread.........

I have absolutely no patience or rationalization for any culture/society/group/religion that refuses to allow girls and women (and boys and men) autonomy. Patriarchy is the scourge of this world and the root cause of racism, sexism, homophobia and war.

Like it or not..............monotheism is the root of this......the God of Abraham (Judiasm, Christianity, Islam) is the root of patriarchy and all that entails.

No girl, boy, woman, or man should be bought or sold as chattel to another person in the form of marriage or servitude. Using religion/culture as the excuse is barbaric and must be stopped all over the world.

[Corkey]

I can safely say I agree with Toughy on point. Problem is that we as the abused and under represented are spinning our wheels. We can't make policy on religion in any other culture. Hell we can't even agree on the nature of religion here. It's a great ideal to espouse, and I'm fully behind it, but until all men have given up their privilege, I can see nothing changing.
All I can do as a citizen of the world is express my outrage, and give my support to those who can effect their own change.

[Nat]

Originally Posted by Toughy

Concerning the topic of this thread.........

I have absolutely no patience or rationalization for any culture/society/group/religion that refuses to allow girls and women (and boys and men) autonomy. Patriarchy is the scourge of this world and the root cause of racism, sexism, homophobia and war.

Like it or not..............monotheism is the root of this......the God of Abraham (Judiasm, Christianity, Islam) is the root of patriarchy and all that entails.

No girl, boy, woman, or man should be bought or sold as chattel to another person in the form of marriage or servitude. Using religion/culture as the excuse is barbaric and must be stopped all over the world.

Agreed.

Agreed. I might also add that it's a specific type of monotheism involving the worshipping of a gendered male "father" god. I think even atheists and others who are non-monotheistic but who come from a monotheistic male-centered religious background (or from a culture where such religion is dominant) will still perpetuate the traditions of patriarchy unless they are for whatever reason dedicated feminists. It's not just religion though - it's everywhere. In every card deck, every chess game. It's built-in everywhere.

Agreed.

[Toughy]

Originally Posted by Nat

Agreed.

Agreed. I might also add that it's a specific type of monotheism involving the worshipping of a gendered male "father" god. I think even atheists and others who are non-monotheistic but who come from a monotheistic male-centered religious background (or from a culture where such religion is dominant) will still perpetuate the traditions of patriarchy unless they are for whatever reason dedicated feminists. It's not just religion though - it's everywhere. In every card deck, every chess game. It's built-in everywhere.

Agreed.

Agreed

Have you read Rianne Eisler's The Chalice and The Blade?.

I would love to live in a world that was neither patriarchal or matriarchal. In a partnership based culture rather than a competitive based culture.

[Nat]

Originally Posted by Toughy

Agreed

Have you read Rianne Eisler's The Chalice and The Blade?.

I would love to live in a world that was neither patriarchal or matriarchal. In a partnership based culture rather than a competitive based culture.

No I haven't, but I'd like to.

I would love to live in that world too.

[Cyclopea]

It will be interesting to see how things play out in Yemen re: child brides. Both pro and con sides have made very public protests in the last few weeks which I suppose has captured the attention of some international media, hence the article.
As to the question of tradition or state sanctioned rape I don't think they are mutually exclusive. I vote on the side of human rights, and find the courage of the Yemeni women bringing about this change very inspiring.