The marriage to a much older sometimes often result in ridicule, disapproval or family – even elderly man is a practice common in shame. Invariably, local perceptions on the – some societies. In traditional societies in ideal age for marriage, the desire for Uganda, a man is given another wife (a submissive wives, extended family patterns sister to the first wife) from the same family and other customary requirements, are all if the first one is dead or disabled. In the enshrined in local customs or religious case of a girl in Rwebisengo Sub county norms. In many contexts child marriage is Ntoroko district is one of many cases of girls legitimized by patriarchy, and related family who are married off at a very young age due structures, which ensure that marriage to traditions. In 2011, a thirteen-year-old transfers a his girl child to father’s role over education was terminated her future spouse. The marriage or betrothal girl’s secondary and married off to a 40-year-old man in of children in some parts of Uganda is order for the family to maintain traditional valued as a means of consolidating powerful ties. The previous wife of the man had died relations between families, for sealing deals of AIDS! This was in arrangement with the over land or other property, or even for local leaders and parents. settling disputes (UNIFPA, 2006). girl’s In other traditional societies where infant Value of virginity and protection of young – mortality was very high and survival girls depended on a ability to produce its Early marriage is one way to ensure that a family’s own food or goods for sale child marriage wife is protected, or placed firmly under – helped to maximize the number of male control; that she is submissive to her pregnancies and ensure enough surviving husband and works hard for her in-laws’ children to meet household labour needs household; that the children she bears are (Mathur 2003). legitimate, (UNICEF 2001; Mathur, 2003 and Nour 2006). On the other hand, for Socio-cultural and religious values many societies that prize virginity before marriage, early marriage can manifest itself In communities where child marriage is in a number of practices designed to prevalent, there is strong social pressure on a girl from unsanctioned sexual ‘protect’ families to conform. Failure to conform can activity. In the eastern and north eastern
The marriage to a much older – sometimes even elderly – man is a practice common in some societies. In traditional societies in Uganda, a man is given another wife (a sister to the first wife) from the same family if the first one is dead or disabled. In the case of a girl in Rwebisengo Sub county Ntoroko district is one of many cases of girls who are married off at a very young age due to traditions. In 2011, a thirteen-year-old girl’s secondary education was terminated and married off to a 40-year-old man in order for the family to maintain traditional ties. The previous wife of the man had died of AIDS! This was in arrangement with the local leaders and girl’s parents. In other traditional societies – where infant mortality was very high and survival depended on a family’s ability to produce its own food or goods for sale – child marriage helped to maximize the number of pregnancies and ensure enough surviving children to meet household labour needs (Mathur 2003). Socio-cultural and religious values In communities where child marriage is prevalent, there is strong social pressure on families to conform. Failure to conform can often result in ridicule, disapproval or family shame. Invariably, local perceptions on the ideal age for marriage, the desire for submissive wives, extended family patterns and other customary requirements, are all enshrined in local customs or religious norms. In many contexts child marriage is legitimized by patriarchy, and related family structures, which ensure that marriage transfers a father’s role over his girl child to her future spouse. The marriage or betrothal of children in some parts of Uganda is valued as a means of consolidating powerful relations between families, for sealing deals over land or other property, or even for settling disputes (UNIFPA, 2006). Value of virginity and protection of young girls Early marriage is one way to ensure that a wife is protected, or placed firmly under male control; that she is submissive to her husband and works hard for her in-laws’ household; that the children she bears are legitimate, (UNICEF 2001; Mathur, 2003 and Nour 2006). On the other hand, for many societies that prize virginity before marriage, early marriage can manifest itself in a number of practices designed to ‘protect’ a girl from unsanctioned sexual activity. In the eastern and north eastern