WOMEN AND FORCED MARRIAGE IN SCOTLAND

The dynamics of Forced Marriage
‘Control is exercised in ways that are far more subtle than the dramas imagined in
current definitions of forced marriage’ (Anitha & Gill, 2009; p172)
The following diagramme summarizes the way in which we understand how women
become trapped in a Forced Marriage:
Figure 7: A summary interpretation of Saheliya’s understanding of how women can become trapped in Forced Marriage
situations. Please note that this is by no means an exclusive or fully comprehensive diagramme, rather an empirical
depiction of Forced Marriage that is derived from Saheliya’s direct work with BME women, as well as interviews with
partner organizations carried out during this research project.
Taking the pink female symbol on the page to mean our client, we first consider her
age, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, education, religion, cultural background, her
personal history, her psychological/emotional maturity etc. In BME communities that we work
with, women occupy the lowest status in the family. Above her in power and authority are her
male siblings (if any) and above them are the mother and father. Similar power to her mother
and father in enjoyed by her extended male relatives (uncles, male cousins, grandfather(s),
below whom are the extended female relatives (female cousins, aunts, grandmother(s).
The woman’s family and extended family occupy a certain status within their
religious/cultural community which depends on their property, status and education, as well as
how ‘honourable’ they perceive themselves/are perceived to be in their community. In fact,
honour is one of the most crucial perceived variables affecting women’s and their families’
decisions around marriage and it will be discussed further later. These factors will be intimately
18