Child marriage is one of the critical issues in Nepal that creates barriers in women’s empowerment. Even though the law prohibits early marriage, a larger number of girls in rural Nepal are married before the age of 18. Deriving from poverty, custom, and patriarchy, child marriage deprives girls of chances to develop, learn, and assert independence. Practices like child marriage not only abuse their right but also affect women’s empowerment. Volunteer Initiative Nepal is working to combat such issues by empowering women in rural areas.
What is Child Marriage?
Child marriage is the marriage of minors younger than 18. In Nepal, girls in rural regions are greatly affected by child marriage. Although the legal minimum age for marriage is 20, enforcement is weak, particularly in remote areas. Families often marry off their daughters early due to cultural norms, poverty, and a lack of awareness about the consequences.
How Child Marriage Affects Women’s Empowerment
1) Disrupts Education
Learning is one of the most potent agents of empowerment but child marriage often leads girls to leave school. Married women are expected to do domestic chores and caring tasks, not having time to study. Without education, they miss the opportunity to acquire knowledge, construct skills, and find higher-paying jobs. Girls who get married before or during their secondary education are less likely to finish it. Due to this, young girls are kept away from their independent thought and decision-making power.
2) Economic Disempowerment
Child marriage traps women in deep poverty traps. Married females are frequently confined to unpaid domestic labor or low wages. Without education and skills, they are not able to access outlets to earn a decent income and are financially dependent on their husbands or in-laws. Financial dependency decreases women’s power in and outside the home, both personally and at a societal level. A woman who lacks financial independence is less likely to be heard when it comes to big decisions like how the household budget is allocated or even whether her children will study.
3) Health Risks and Maternal Mortality
Child marriage often leads to early pregnancies, which carry significant health risks for young girls. In Nepal, many adolescent mothers face complications during pregnancy and childbirth due to their underdeveloped bodies. These health risks not only threaten their lives but also reduce their ability to contribute actively to their families and communities. Moreover, early motherhood limits women’s personal development. Caring for children at a young age means they miss out on opportunities to study, work, or engage in social activities, further isolating them from avenues of empowerment.
4) Reinforces Gender Inequality
Child marriage reinforces traditional gender roles that keep women subordinate. Once married, girls are often expected to prioritize household duties and obey their husbands or in-laws. These rigid roles prevent them from asserting their individuality or pursuing personal ambitions. In many Nepali households, married girls are discouraged from participating in community activities or leadership roles. This exclusion limits their ability to advocate for themselves and other women, keeping them trapped in cycles of disempowerment.
5) Reduces Decision-Making Power
In child marriage, women lose the right to choose over their own lives. Early marriage is common for girls, and they tend to have limited choices in their marriage partner, education, or family planning. This autonomy deprivation is carried over into marital life, where issues of finances, health, and family are decided upon by husbands or even in-laws. Poor decision power also affects women’s confidence and self-esteem. Women who are unable to regulate their own lives are less likely to rebel and push against the boundaries of what society expects of them as an empowering tool.
Conclusion
Child marriage is a major obstacle to women’s empowerment in Nepal. It interferes with education, worsens poverty, and reinforces a gender bias that limits opportunities to grow and succeed. Child marriage takes childhood and independence away from girls. It suppresses their potential and prevents them from becoming active producers in the family, society, and the nation as a whole. This is why child marriage should be tackled to empower women in Nepal.
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