Girls Need Education, Not Child Marriage

In this modern time, child marriage does still exist. In 2017, 18% of Indonesian girls married under 18 years old because of economic and belief issues. Child marriage should be ended because it brings more adverse effects to the girls.

Girls under 18 years old may have had menstruation. However, their reproductive organs are not yet fully developed. Because of this, they can face miscarriage, vaginal tearing, premature baby, anemia, and bleeding in giving birth to their children.

Psychologically, the girls are not yet mature. You may argue that maturity is not measured by age. However, being a wife and mother with complex responsibilities can cause mental illnesses such as baby blues and depression, which can be fatal if not be taken seriously. Certainly, being a wife and mother is not the right duty for children.

Marry the girls to a rich man may seem to be a great solution to end poverty. However, it may lead the girls to fall in their husbands' orders without pause. A child marriage perhaps can save a family from poverty, but sadly it also sacrifices the girls' freedom and future.

Moreover, age is God's secret. We never know when our life will stop. It also prevails to the husband. What if the husband died without leaving enough money for a wife and three little children? How can they survive if the wife is unskilled or even dropped out of school? You may argue that school is not everything, but we cannot deny that school is a way to get knowledge, skill, and manner which will be beneficial for our future life, especially our carrier. Furthermore, how can the wife get enough skill and experience if she married under 18 years old? Besides, the recommended age to get married is 20 years for women and 25 years for men.

To end all of the arguments above, we should remember that every child has their dream whether they are boy or girl. It is their right to chase their dream and take their path. Instead of marrying the girls to a rich man, give them access to education so they can have a decent life without relying on someone else.