Child Marriages

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/world/middleeast/29marriage.html?th&emc=th

It's a common thing in Yemen apparently since the average age to get married is 13. It's not uncommon for girls in India and Pakistan to be married young either, for the expense of a dowry, of course. In the end, unfortunately, it all revolves about money. The girls are being literally sold to their future husbands. Poverty does have that effect on households across the Middle East. Another reason, saddening as well, is for protection. The example in this article was for the sake of the daughter. The man was a father trying to protect his child. But before she even knew what 'pregnant' meant or how to 'be a wife' was, she was married off. His other daughters were kidnapped and had forced marriages. This being the only other alternative.

Nujood, the 10 year old daughter in this case, came off lucky. The judge she had approached was extremely sympathetic. Not all women can be lucky in circumstances. Tradition is a tight rope that binds daily life to these people. How can they turn back on tradition? Their roots? It would be disgraceful to even defy what their ancestors have been practicing for centuries.

Quite depressing. This day and age, girl of 13 panic if they switch schools or move out of town. Girls in Yemen are blindsided and married off. Change is a natural thing. To make [a positive] difference, one must turn away from tradition. It's not so easy for those who live uneducated, uninformed, and sheltered to stray dangerously away from a preserved culture.

So live life to the fullest. When you feel like something must be done for the better. Stand up. Nujood did. She gets a second chance to be a kid.