Publications
State Regulations Are Failing Our Children: An Analysis of Child Marriage Laws in the United States
Author: Rachel L. Schuman
Publication: May 31, 2019
Laws allowing for child marriage have a long history in U.S. and common law, but are currently receiving increased scrutiny from advocates seeking to prevent the documented harms of early marriage. This article examines whether Congress could legally promote the implementation of a uniform marriage age across states using precedent set in South Dakota v. Dole. Read more.
Protection Versus Rights: Age of Marriage Versus Age of Sexual Consent
Authors: Suzanne Petroni, Madhumita Das, & Susan M Sawyer
Publication: December 5, 2018
As many governments worldwide have raised the legal age of marriage to 18 years, some are also considering raising the age of sexual consent. Without close-in-age exemptions, arguments to align the legal age of sexual consent with that of marriage would restrict the ability of adolescents to legally have sex. The authors find that, because the consideration to marry and to have sex are very different, the minimum ages need not be aligned.
The Lived Experience of Child Marriage in the United States
Authors: Aditi Wahi, Kristen L. Zaleski, Jacob Lampe, Patricia Bevan, & Alissa Koski
Publication: February 12, 2019
Researchers interviewed Americans who were married under age 18, investigating the reasons behind their child marriages, and the experiences face by participants as a result of marrying underage. Most participants reported experiencing abuse related to their marriage, including physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse. Read more.
Unfortunately, due to journal guidelines, we are unable to provide free access to the full article. The link above will redirect you to the journal website where you can view the abstract and select payment options to access the full text.
Understanding Forced Marriage in the United States: Developing Measures, Examining its Nature, and Assessing Gender Disparities
Authors: Sino Esthappan, Sara Bastomski, Janine Zweig, Meredith Dank, and Hannah Love
Publication: October 19, 2018
While an emerging scholarly literature has begun to inform responses to forced marriage in Canada and Western Europe, few studies have examined the issue in the United States. The present study is the first large scale examination of forced marriage prevalence in the United States. It surveys a national sample of adult internet users to estimate prevalence of and gender disparities in forced marriage among U.S. adults. Read more.
Unfortunately, due to journal guidelines, we are unable to provide free access to the full article. The link above will redirect you to the journal website where you can view the abstract and select payment options to access the full text.
Navigating an Unclear Terrain: Challenges in Recognizing, Naming, and Accessing Services for “Forced Marriage”
Authors: Hannah Love, Meredith Dank, Sino Esthappan, and Janine Zweig
Publication: October 25, 2018
Despite the attention forced marriage has received abroad, it remains poorly understood in the United States. This study is one of the first to examine the practice domestically, with a focus on service provision. Using Interviews with those who have experienced forced marriage and relevant stakeholders, the authors describe challenges in recognizing, naming, and disclosing forced marriage. Read more.
Unfortunately, due to journal guidelines, we are unable to provide free access to the full article. The link above will redirect you to the journal website where you can view the abstract and select payment options to access the full text.