Child marriage is still legal in most of the U.S. Here’s why.

jeffw@lemmy.world to politics @lemmy.world – 279 points –
Child marriage is still legal in most of the U.S. Here’s why.
thehill.com

About 300,000 children and teens were legally married in the United States between 2000 and 2018, according to data from Unchained at Last, a nonprofit that works to help women and girls in forced marriages.

Laws prohibiting minors to marry have struggled to pass. Only 10 states have a law prohibiting people under 18 from marrying.

Pushback to setting 18 as a minimum age for marriage comes from both conservative and progressive groups.

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Pedophilia

Not technically, no. Pedophilia is a sexual attraction to prepubescents. Teens aren't prepubescent, outside of those with medical disorders.

Even if they were married, I would still call sex with them satutory rape though. And since they haven't reached the age of consent, I wouldn't think they could legally sign a marriage contract either. So I have no idea how any of this is even really possible as the law currently stands.

I have no idea how any of this is even really possible as the law currently stands.

I think I know how it happens, if one doesn't want their day to be more depressing, one should stop reading now...

I know someone who got married at 15 years old. I remember her being pregnant when I met my wife in 2007. As I recall her mom had to sign something for permission. The woman is in her early 30's now, her husband is mid-40's. They don't have the best relationship, but they've been married a long time and have four children, they've been in a few self-inflicted bad spots and have managed to make it. I don't know the specifics, but it appeared that the girl had a decision between a guy with a job who liked her, and a mom who was too busy chasing men and doing drugs to take care of her children.