Essay on Raising the age of marriage of girls from 18 to 21- Advantages and disadvantages for Class 10, 12, Mains Exam (UPSC, PSC, SSC)
Raising the age of marriage of girls from 18 to 21- Advantages and disadvantages Essay : India has always earned the name of a patriarchal society. Gender discrimination in India bears evidence of this fact. The Indian government has therefore proposed legislation to increase the minimum age of marriage of girls from 18 to 21 years. This is another act on the part of the Indian government to empower women and offer equal social status to them as that of a man. After putting a ban on child marriage, our honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that girls should be given time to study and acquire a prosperous future. This action will ensure gender parity thereby allowing girls to complete their education and attain employment opportunities. Thus, this law intends to bring about a massive change with respect to gender rights.
Advantages:
According to the National family health survey, marrying off girls at a tender age of 18 is considered to be illegal. It poses a severe threat to the girls and to the entire nation as well. Thus, the reduced age of marriage will allow girls to complete their education and embark on a successful future. This can be achieved by accessing employability. Teenage pregnancies can be abolished if the age is increased from 18 to 21 years. Furthermore, the infant mortality rate and low life expectancy can be reduced among the rural women. Several health problems such as anemia and blood pressure can be brought under controlwhich would not have been possible if the girls become pregnant at a tender age. This in turn will help to stalling the maternal mortality rate.
Early marriages also give rise to mental health issues as the girls are subjected to be subservient under their husbands control. They may suffer from depression, anxiety and frustration. This implies that the increased age of marriage can relieve the girls of these problems. In addition, this can help the nation to achieve gender equality as the minimum legal age for both men and women will be same. Another added advantage is that the girls will no longer have to depend on their husbands for financial help. It has ben noticed that the dependency has compelled the girls to stay with their husbands even though it is abusive. Hence increasing the legal age of marriage will make the girls economically stable.
Disadvantages:
Increasing the legal marriage age of girls entail few disadvantages. The implementation of this law has not been able to awaken the consciousness of the masses. It has been noticed that many poor and illiterate rural families are marrying off their girls as they are regarded as a burden for the families. Due to the prevalence of the patriarchal mindset of some orthodox families, the girls are forced to marry in their teens. After the implementation of the law, this is not allowed to happen. Thus, the girls under the patriarchal control will have to suffer constant threats till the time they turn 21 years. Furthermore, 18 years is considered as the legal to cast votes. Under the impact of this act, many girls who want to marry the partners of their choice have to wait until he attains 21 years age. Thus, this may act against the will by hurtingtheir sentiments.
Conclusion:
The Supreme Court has taken a superb initiative to increase the legal age of marriage of women from 18 to 21 years. However, this act has to be enforced in all spheres of the society. Therefore, it is highly important to create awareness among the masses and make them understand the significance of such an initiative.
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