The practice of early marriage of girls (under the age of 16) in rural communities in Indonesia, still exists today, especially in poor rural communities. The article aims to capture how women’s knowledge and the role of women leaders in rural communities eliminate the practice of girl marriage based on research conducted in 2 (two) poor villages on Madura Island, East Java Province: Sampang Regency and Bangkalan Regency. The subjects were women who married at a young age, husbands, parents, members of women’s organizations, and leaders of women’s organizations.
Data collection techniques used in this study were in-depth interviews with 20 informants and interviews using questionnaires to 200 respondents who were selected purposively. This study shows that women’s knowledge about girls’ early marriage problems reflects a lack of gender awareness. The purpose is revealing why the practice of early marriage continues in this rural community. The extent to which women know the problems of early daughter marriages, what are the consequences of early daughter marriages, and the harmful effect on young girls.
Until 2018, the results of this study showed girls were married at a very young age, both in Sampang Regency and Bangkalan Regency, most of them even married at the age of 14 years and under (Sampang Regency 74% and Bangkalan Regency) 68%). Parents say that they will marry their daughter right after the first menstruation or graduate from elementary school. This research shows that when girls get married, they drop out of school.
The results also showed that in rural communities in Sampang and Bangkalan Districts, their mothers and sisters were even married at the young age of 11-14 years (Sampang Regency 91% and Bangkalan Regency 84%). Only one-third of women know the high risk of early marriage practices for girls in reproductive health of young mothers (31% in Temoran village, Sampang District and 28% in Dajah village, Bangkalan District) and infant health conditions (35% in Temoran village, Kabupaten Sampang and 30% in the village of Dajah, Bangkalan Regency). Moreover, only one-third of women know the adverse effects of early marriage on girls on the problem of domestic violence and divorce.
The study found that women in this rural community did not have enough knowledge about the risks of early marriage for young mothers and their children. A mother who married her daughter earlier said that she was sure there was no problem with her daughter marrying a young child. The study also showed the majority of women see the problem of early marriage as girls is a severe problem that must be eliminated and may not occur (73% in Temoran village, Sampang Regency, and 80% in Dajah village, Bangkalan Regency). Besides, some women argue that the issue of girl marriage is a severe problem that needs to be fought by women’s organizations.
Analysis of the study explained what can be done to end child marriage is an intervention not only to reform the legal and policy framework but also to increase public awareness, especially women and girls who are victims of the practice of early marriage of girls. The powerful intervention is by empowering women and girls with information, skills, and support networks. It is also essential to offer economic support and incentives for girls and their families to look after girls at school or get married later. Educating and mobilizing parents and community members who oppose this practice is also a significant intervention. Reconstructing the idea of early marriage requires dialogue with religious and community leaders who have a significant influence on these issues.
Author: Emy Susanti Faculty Social Sciences and Political Sciences Universitas Airlangga Link: Women’s Knowledge and the Role of Local Female Leaders in Ending the Practice of the Early Marriage of Girls in Rural Communities of Indonesia Journal of International Women’s Studies Volume 20, Issue 9 Gender Relations, Equality and Inclusion in Indonesia: Contradictions, Complexity, and Diversity http://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol20/iss9
