Child Bride Essay

Child Brides in Yemen

Child marriage is a practice that takes place way more often than it should. Every minute, about twenty-seven young girls are getting married around the world. Child marriage is defined as the marriage of anyone; boy or girl, under the age of 18, but it mostly affects girls. They most commonly take place in third-world countries and can occur for any number of reasons. Throughout history, child marriages were actually pretty common. It is believed that girls, and sometimes boys, were expected to marry right after or even before puberty during the Middle Ages. In Yemen, where Nujood endured her painful journey, nearly one-third of children are married. When Nujood was granted a divorce in 2008, the parliament

From the very beginning of her arranged marriage, she could not wrap her head around their tradition. Men were brought up to control their wives of such a young age and express discipline and a sense of authority. “Hit her even harder. She must listen to you—she’s your wife.” (Ali 93) The women must obey. Women like Nujood, were not taught to make choices. Nujood lived a short childhood and was forced into marriage by her father. It was happiness from birth to ten years old, however it ended extremely

And when he decided four years later to enlarge the family by choosing a family by choosing a second wife, my mother obediently accepted his decision. (Ali 23)

Obedience was required for every child bride that existed. Her mother respected the tradition and abided by every single rule she was expected to follow. Unlike her mother, Nujood’s retaliation revealed a powerful image of her self-respect. Deep down she knew this was not the kind of life style and child at the age of ten years, or younger should go through. As mentioned, “child marriages are pretty common” and Nujood fought for her freedom as a child and change in their traditional way of life.

While reading this novel, individuals can fully imagine the struggles these child brides or arranged marriages in general go through. One can only experience what it feels like to belong to someone when they themselves do not have any idea who they are or can become. They are destined to obey and serve their husbands and honor their family tradition, and if they, like Nujood, choose to rebel against the norm of their reality, they will be looked down upon and punished for their disobedience and lack of