Teenage Marriage in Tagalog: A Cultural and Social Analysis
Teenage Marriage Essay Tagalog
Teenage marriage is a phenomenon that occurs when young people, usually below the legal age of 18, decide to get married. This practice is common in some cultures, especially in the Philippines, where many factors influence the decision of teenagers to marry early. Some of these factors are poverty, lack of education, family pressure, religious beliefs, and teenage pregnancy.
teenage marriage essay tagalog
In this essay, we will explore the causes and effects of teenage marriage in the Philippines, as well as the challenges and opportunities that it presents for the Filipino society. We will also examine the legal and moral implications of this issue, and how it affects the rights and welfare of the young couples and their children.
Causes of Teenage Marriage in the Philippines
There are many causes of teenage marriage in the Philippines, but some of the most common ones are poverty, lack of education, family pressure, religious beliefs, and teenage pregnancy. According to a study by Orge and de Guzman (2019), these factors are influenced by gender inequality, cultural norms, and social and economic conditions. For example, some families may arrange the marriage of their daughters to older men for financial security or to avoid shame and stigma. Some religious groups may also encourage early marriage as a way of preserving chastity and morality. Some teenagers may also choose to marry their partners after getting pregnant, either voluntarily or as a result of sexual abuse or rape.
Effects of Teenage Marriage in the Philippines
Teenage marriage has many negative effects on the lives of the young couples and their children. According to UNFPA (2020), child marriage disrupts the development and growth of girls and leads to teenage pregnancy, lower educational attainment and employability, higher risk of domestic violence, and poor health outcomes. Teenage mothers are more likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth, such as anemia, eclampsia, and obstetric fistula. They are also more likely to have low birth weight babies, who are at higher risk of malnutrition, stunting, and mortality. Teenage fathers may also face difficulties in providing for their families, especially if they lack education and skills. Furthermore, teenage marriage deprives the young couples of their rights and opportunities to enjoy their childhood and adolescence. They may face social isolation, discrimination, and stigma from their peers and communities. They may also lose their autonomy and voice in decision-making within their households and relationships. They may have limited access to information and services on sexual and reproductive health, family planning, education, and livelihood.
Challenges and Opportunities of Teenage Marriage in the Philippines
Teenage marriage poses many challenges for the Filipino society, especially in terms of ensuring the rights and welfare of the young couples and their children. The practice of child marriage is illegal under the Philippine law, but it is still prevalent in some indigenous and Muslim communities, where it is influenced by cultural and religious traditions. However, in January 2022, the Philippine government passed the Republic Act No. 11596 or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law, which bans and penalizes child marriage in all forms and circumstances. This law is a major milestone for child rights, as it strengthens the legal framework and protection for young girls and boys who are vulnerable to this harmful practice. UNICEF Philippines Representative Ms. Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov commended the government for passing this important law and expressed UNICEF's commitment to support its implementation and enforcement.
Aside from legal measures, there are also other opportunities to address the issue of teenage marriage in the Philippines, such as providing social protection, equitable access to education, uninterrupted health services, and empowerment of children and young people. These interventions can help prevent teenage marriage by addressing its root causes, such as poverty, lack of education, family pressure, religious beliefs, and teenage pregnancy. They can also help mitigate its effects by providing support and assistance to the young couples and their children, such as counseling, livelihood skills, family planning, maternal and child health care, and child protection. Moreover, pursuing transformational change in social norms for eliminating child marriage is also crucial, as it involves engaging men and boys, parents and community leaders, and other stakeholders to challenge and change the attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate this practice.
Legal and Moral Implications of Teenage Marriage in the Philippines
Teenage marriage has legal and moral implications for the young couples and their children, as well as for the Philippine society. Legally, child marriage is prohibited under the Philippine law, which sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 for both sexes. However, there are exceptions for indigenous and Muslim communities, where customary and religious laws allow child marriage under certain conditions. This creates a legal gap and a challenge for the enforcement of the national law. Moreover, child marriage violates the human rights of the young couples and their children, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international treaties that the Philippines has ratified. These rights include the right to life, health, education, protection, participation, and freedom from discrimination, violence, and exploitation.
Morally, child marriage raises ethical questions about the consent, autonomy, and dignity of the young couples and their children. Some child marriages are forced or arranged by parents or elders, without regard for the wishes and feelings of the children involved. Some are driven by economic or social pressures, such as poverty, lack of education, family honor, or teenage pregnancy. Some are influenced by cultural or religious beliefs, such as preserving chastity or fulfilling a vow. These factors undermine the moral agency and responsibility of the young couples and their children, who may not be fully aware of the consequences and obligations of marriage. They may also deprive them of their moral values and virtues, such as respect, honesty, loyalty, and fidelity.
How to Prevent Teenage Marriage in the Philippines
Preventing teenage marriage in the Philippines requires a multi-sectoral and multi-level approach that involves the government, civil society, communities, families, and young people themselves. Some of the strategies that can help prevent teenage marriage are:
Enacting and enforcing laws that prohibit and penalize child marriage in all forms and circumstances, regardless of customary or religious laws. The passage of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law is a significant step in this direction, but it needs to be complemented by effective implementation and monitoring mechanisms.
Providing social protection measures that address the economic and social drivers of child marriage, such as poverty, lack of education, family pressure, and teenage pregnancy. These measures may include cash transfers, scholarships, livelihood programs, health insurance, and social services for vulnerable families and children.
Ensuring equitable access to quality education for all children, especially girls, and preventing school dropouts due to child marriage or teenage pregnancy. Education can empower girls to make informed choices about their lives and futures, as well as provide them with skills and opportunities for employment and income generation.
Providing uninterrupted health services for adolescents, especially sexual and reproductive health services, such as family planning, maternal and child health care, HIV testing and counseling, and prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. These services can help prevent teenage pregnancy and its complications, as well as protect the health and rights of young couples and their children.
Empowering children and young people to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives, such as marriage and parenthood. This can be done by providing them with information, education, and communication materials on child rights, child marriage, sexual and reproductive health, and life skills. It can also be done by creating safe spaces and platforms for them to express their views and opinions, such as youth clubs, peer groups, helplines, and online forums.
Pursuing transformational change in social norms for eliminating child marriage, by engaging men and boys, parents and community leaders, and other stakeholders to challenge and change the attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate this practice. This can be done by conducting awareness-raising campaigns, dialogues, trainings, and advocacy activities that promote gender equality, respect for human rights, positive parenting, responsible sexuality, and healthy relationships.
Conclusion
Teenage marriage is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects the lives of millions of young people in the Philippines. It has various causes and effects, as well as legal and moral implications, that challenge the rights and welfare of the young couples and their children. It also poses a threat to the development and progress of the Filipino society. Therefore, it is imperative to prevent and end this harmful practice by implementing comprehensive and coordinated interventions that address its root causes and mitigate its consequences. These interventions should involve the participation and collaboration of all stakeholders, especially the young people themselves, who have the right to decide their own destinies. b99f773239
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