Child bride?

Question

Child bride: Sex abuse or cultural diversity?


A member of the European Parliament is demanding action over the marriage of a young Roma princess to a 15-year-old bridegroom.
Ana-Maria Cioaba, whose age has been reported as either 12 or 14, was reluctantly married on Saturday to a 15-year-old Roma bridegroom.

Family members say she had been promised in marriage when she was aged just seven, for a price of 500 gold coins, and had no say in the wedding.

British MEP Emma Nicholson is demanding that the Romanian Government take both children into care.

Is this marriage a form of child sexual abuse or an expression of cultural diversity? Should different cultures be able to exercise their different traditions on marriage?

I know this happened some time ago I'm just trying to see the point of view of people today.

Answer 1

I think calling that form of marriage child sexual abuse is going a bit too far. Much depends of the culture and mores of the general culture and in many cultures 13 is considered an adult. Until recently there were some US states that allowed brides at age12 and 14 with parental consent. Loretta Lynn, the country singer, married at age 13 and her husband was considerably older than her. They were married more than 50 years. I wouldn't recommend it, but it seemed to work for them. Ideal age for marriage IMO mid 20s. old enough to finish college or military and get work experience but young enough that you're not too set in your ways.

Answer 2

For them it was cultural. But there are many countries that allow "child brides" In some countries in the Middle East girls in small villages are married off at 7. I don't agree with arranged marriages, and getting married at a very young age. But don't think it doesn't happen in "civilized" countries also.

Answer 3

I don't know if it's necessarily abuse because they are both very young, but this is an age old custom. Even though in modern times we do not see arranged marriages at that young of an age that often, in a lot of countries it is still the norm.

There are a lot of cultural traditions still practiced in other countries that we would view as barbaric or bizarre, but I don't think we should have a say in what other cultures do. I say live and let live.

Answer 4

I don't agree with marriage at that young of an age, but that went on for centuries, especially with royalty. I don't think they are expected to consummate the marriage at that age. It's not like marrying a 13 year old girl to a 40 year old man. Usually when there are child marriages like that, they still supervise them as children.
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Answer 5

This event happened some time ago, in 2003 (why didn't you mention that?). In the end the local child protection authority decided to separate the two (until they reach the legal age for marriage) and to have them included into a counseling program.

Answer 6

The fact the child married reluctantly tells you something very negative right there. I feel sorry for both of those children.

Answer 7

These are gypsies for goodness sake. Let them live and live in their environment. There is nothing you could do to stop them. Has been going on for centuries.

Know of a 24 year old man that got married to a 14 year old woman. Now, I consider that rape. But this was back in the 1900s

Answer 8

i think they should not be allowed to marry until of legal age and consent. two people not consenting to an arranged marriage of minor age is not cool. def abuse, what do they expect, a 12 to have sex? sick!!

Answer 9

It's both....who said the two have to be mutually exclusive?

Answer 10

this is cultural. we have just moved away from that, but i'm sure all marriages used to be this way.