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April / May 2010 theShield
Feature | 11
Teens Debate the Success of Young Marriages
Despite High Divorce Rates Many Young Couples are Deciding to Tie the Knot
By Alyssa Neira
“I Do.”
These two words
start the beginning
of the rest of one’s life as the commitment
and increased responsibility
of marriage commences. Lately, many
adolescents have begun this important
step earlier in their lives. It is becoming
common, and though the marriage
sometimes works, there are also occasions
where it isn’t always blue skies
and rainbows.
In a study conducted by Rutger’s
University in 1995, eighty percent of
high school seniors responded that
they plan on getting married, while 61
percent plan on staying with that person
for the rest of their lives. This issue
is not just native to America, it is also
seen all around the world. In Bangladesh,
India, Mali and Nepal, half of all
women were married by 18. The Center
for Law and Policy reported that by
March 1998, approximately 450,000
15-19 year olds had been married. If
this pattern continues, 100 million girls
will get married before they are 18.
Everyone’s situation is different,
with reasons for early marriage quite
varied: poverty, dowry pressures, parental
concerns about premarital sex
and pregnancy, economic issues, cultural
reasons, or simply feeling in love.
For example, it is common for teenagers
in Hispanic countries to get married
as an economic solution for their
family. Marriage may not be their fi rst
choice, but it is necessary. Others get
married out of rebellion. Some have
children young and leave school to
take care of their families. Although
young marriages may not be recommended,
they are sometimes the only
option.
As a teenager in love, making this
decision may change the rest of your
life. “If teens want to get married, they
should move in with that person fi rst
and just be with them before making
that step. A reason for an early marriage
just depends on the person. If
they feel it’s a good step, then more
power to them,” stated junior Emmily
Payton. In the same Rutger’s study, 59
percent of the students agreed that living
together before marriage is a good
way for a couple to fi nd out if they’re
compatible. Some teenagers think
early marriage has its pros, such as
unconditional love, lower cost of living,
confi dence and the possibility for
children.
For others, early marriages cause
more problems. For instance, junior
David Carmen states, “There are pros
and cons to everything, but I think here
the cons outweigh the pros. If you are
still a kid yourself, what makes you
think you can handle the real world
and marriage? You haven’t even lived
most of your life or experienced things
for yourself. Yeah, there can be certain
circumstances when teenage marriages
are right, but I think you have to look at
yourself and say, ‘Is this the right thing
for me?’” Cons of early marriages include
being tied to the same person for
the rest of your life, giving up your
freedom, and working on maintaining
human qualities. Another issue with
early marriages is the high divorce
rate. A 2001 study done by the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention,
48 percent of those married before 18
were more likely to be divorced within
ten years.
Being a teenager, there are many
decisions involving life that need to be
made, such as career choice, college
choice, and many fi nancial decisions.
Marriage works for some, but it may
not work for all. “No one can tell you
if you’re in love, but young marriages
never really get to experience love
completely . . . but sometimes maybe
you do fi nd the one when you’re
young,” comments sophomore Lila
Pipersburgh.