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Intro

Background

The particulars and legalities of Teenage Marriage vary from one area or era to the next. Marriage has often been used as a tool to create allegiances or agreements, rather than a link between two people in love. Almost every country has a legal minimum age for marriage, which ranges from as low as 12 in some Latin American countries to as high as 22 in China. Commonly the age requirement is 16 for women and 18 for men. Despite laws concerning the age of marriage, tradition usually takes precedence and marriage continues to occur at very young ages. In many African and Asian countries as much as two-thirds of teenage woman are or have been married (Teens and Marriage). In many nations, marrying off a young daughter means one less mouth to feed and no fear of illegitimate children, a dishonor to the family. But these youthful brides typically suffer profound physical and psychological damage, according to a UNICEF report (The World of Teen Marriage). While historically marriages in western culture have had a late age of marriage and an emphasis on the nuclear family (Soll). In comparison, the percentage of women ages 15-19 who are married in the United States is 3.9% while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the percentage is 74% (The World of Teen Marriage). In the U.S. teenage marriages declined significantly after the mid-20th century, but experienced resurgence in the 1990s, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census data from 2000 show that 4.5% of 15- to 19-year-olds were married, up from 3.4% in 1990. While that was an increase of almost 50%, it was still far below the 9.5% recorded in 1950 (Senderowitz 12).

Cultural and Legal Aspect

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The trend of teen marriage is rising with every state increasing their laws to certain ages; more and more teenagers are not getting married. Our culture is obsessed with happy endings and believes that getting married can fix anything. Just look at "reality" shows like The Bachelor and Joe Millionaire and movies like Maid in Manhattan and Just Married. Their message is that getting married turn’s life into a fairy tale which is dangerous because faiy tales have nothing to do with reality. The fact is that most teen relationships, even the strongest ones usually end. In fact, people have all different kinds of ways of making a lifetime commitment to each other. In many states' teen marriage laws are making it harder for teens to marry. There are recent studies that indicate that teen marriage is simply not a good idea. Marriage license laws in the United States are reflecting that belief. In the United States, all but one state requires that a couple be 18 in order to marry without parental permission. Nebraska sets the age of majority at 19, although a few states will waive this requirement if there is a pregnancy, teenage couples may still have to have court approval. (Ojeda) A few states allow pregnant teens or teens who have already had a child to get married without parental consent but these couples must have permission from a court. Even with parental approval, many states require court approval when a person is 16 years old or less.In the Siriono culture of South America, a girl may marry before she reaches puberty. The Murnigin girl of Australia is likely to become a wife when her breasts first begin to develop and a boy might marry for the first time when his beard begins to appear. A Lepcha girl in Tibet is sometimes married at age eight years of age, while boys are often married when they are 12 years old. Across cultures, married life begins at a early age. Boys marry at 15 years of age or less in 10 percent of 58 societies. Another 42 percent marry between 16 and 19 years of age. Thirty-eight percent are married in their twenties, and 10 percent marry when they are 30 years of age. (Ayer) But why are people pushing their children to marry at a young age across the cultures? Scientists and Psychologists made a discvery in 1963 that in traditional societies, boys and girls have usually begun to do serious work well before they reach puberty or physically mature. Girls are often doing womanly work at a certain age: cooking, weaving, gardening, taking care of their siblings when they are the earliest age of six to the age of nine even earlier at three or four. Boys on the other hand, learn how to farm, herd, and hunt before they reach manhood. Mothers and Fathers attempt their children to choose their potential loved ones, but about 70% of their decisions are their parents. Parents who fail to marry a child at the proper age are thought to be neglecting their responsibilities, with their reputations suffered. Across cultures, females tend to be married earlier than males. Boys are married later than girls in 85 percent of 45 cultures. In the remaining 15 percent, both sexes marry at a roughly the same age. The differential in age of marriage for males and females is from one to five years in 78 percent of 37 societies and between six and ten years in another 16 percent. In the remaining 6 percent, the difference in age of marriage for males and females is over ten years. (Broude) In many cultures, parents wish to settle a daughter’s marriage at a early age to avoid their fate of missing a attrated suitable husband. People in a number of cultures believe that marrying their daughters lead to a better wife. Girls are married off at an early age to pervere their viginity. As the age marriage increases, comes many desires. Men, in gereral prefer to marry younger women, regardless of their age, while young woman, refer to date older men, though older woman tend to not date younger men. How does this trend of dating younger or older spouses be explained? Theory is that a females most valuable resource is her youth and health, as the young and healthy wife offers a husband to produce a large family, as of men its vice-versa. Males are capable to father their children at a age when they reach maturity, so many young females find older men attractive.

State Listing of Teen Marriage License Laws:

States	State Laws
Alabama	• Under 18 applicants need certified copy of birth certificate, both parents must be present with identification, or if you have a legal guardian they must be present with a court order and identification. If one or both parents are deceased, proper evidence of such must be provided.
Alaska	• Under 18 applicants need certified copy of birth certificate, both parents must be present with identification, or if you have a legal guardian they must be present with a court order and identification.
Arizona	• If you are under the age of 18, you must either have a notarized parental consent form or have your parents accompany you, present the proper identification, and sign the parental consent form in front of the clerk issuing your license. • If you are age 16 - 17 identification and one of the following documents showing proof of age is needed: • certified copy of birth certificate • current driver's license • state or military I.D. card • or current passport • If you are age 15 or under, you must also have a court order.
Arkansas	• Under 18 requires consent of both sets of parents.
California	• If either the bride or groom is under 18, at least one of the minor's parents, or legal guardian, must appear with the couple. Certified copies of birth certificates are required. The couple must also schedule an appointment with a counselor and then appear before a superior court judge.
Colorado	• If you are 16 or 17, you will need consent of both parents (or parent having legal custody), or guardian, or seek judicial approval. • If you are under 16, a Judicial Court Order along with parental consent is necessary.
Connecticut	• If applicant is under the age of 18 written consent of the parent or guardian is required and under the age of 16 the Judge of probate must endorse with written consent on the license.

Results and Consequences

Consequences:

When a divorce occurs in a family, many adolescents feel they are at fault. The teenager try to mend this feeling of guilt and loneliness by jumping into early age matrimony themselves, searching for the father, mother figure in their partner. Trying to feel the comfort and security they once had in their home and now lack off because of their parent’s divorce. Many teenagers are force into adulthood in their teenage years. Forcing them to leave their childhood behind and taking the responsibility of their lives, making them grow up faster than they should. Children of divorced parents often vow not to repeat the same mistakes their parents did. They want to avoid putting themselves and their own children through the pain and stress that come from divorce. But, according to University of Utah researcher Nicholas H. Wolfinger, these children’s aspirations face unfavorable odds. According to the book of Ayer, Eleanor H. Everything You Need to Know about Teen Marriage. The Rosen Publishing Group INC. New York, 1990 other situations that leads teenagers to an early marriage is often when the young couple has been practicing unprotected sex and the consequence is a pregnancy. Other factors that also lead to marriage are love, lust, fear of losing their partner, abuse, extreme parental control, sexual harassment and step-family difficulties. But, in Ancient Rome, people did not marry because they were in love. They married to carry on the family bloodline and for economical or political reasons. In 1371, the average age to marriage for men was 24, and for women it was between 13 and 16. Today when teenagers that commit to each other it gives them the sense of independence and parental control freedom. Which can lead to be a struggle for a better future at each other’s side.

Results:

Although, this fast and sometime unnecessary action can lead the young couple to an unhappy marriage, and eventually leading them into a divorce. The fact is that one out of every three teen marriage will end up in a divorce by the age of 25. Additionally according to the Stitof, Bob and Sheri. Teen Marriage History, Statistics, Thing to Consider About.com United States Department of Vital Statistics. 14 October 2008 htt://marriage.about.com/cs/teenmarriage/a/teenmarriage.htm. "marriages and divorce rates have increased by 68 percent since 1995. Also, one out of every four teenagers, have parents that are divorced." As in any serious decision making, the young couples should keep in mind that there are many choices and different points of view to consider fore the decision they are about to make. Nevertheless, there are teenage couple that make a marriage last a life time. They must be mature enough to understand and be able to work through the difficulties they will encounter in their marriage. Couples that work through issues end up with stronger marriages and a level of happiness beyond anything they could imagined. Teenagers should take into consideration that the only wrong decision they will make, is the one that they make in a hurry and without all the facts clearly laid out.