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  2. Vol 26, No 12s (2022)
  3. Melnikas

A conceptual framework for understanding child marriage, marriage markets, and marriageability

Andrea J. Melnikas(1), Grace Saul(2), Neelanjana Pandey(3), Mouhamadou Gueye(4), James Mkandawire(5), Aissa Diarra(6), Sajeda Amin(7),


(1) Population Council, New York, NY, USA
(2) Population Council, New York, NY, USA
(3) Population Council, New Delhi, India
(4) Centre d’Études et de Recherche sur l’Information en Population et Santé (CERIPS), Bamako, Mali
(5) Invest in Knowledge Initiative (IKI), Zomba, Malawi
(6) Laboratoire d’Études et de Recherche sur les Dynamiques Sociales et le Développement Local (LASDEL), Niamey, Niger
(7) Population Council, New York, NY, USA
Corresponding Author

Abstract


The term ‘marriageability’ is used frequently in child marriage literature but is rarely defined. We propose a conceptual framework to define marriageability and use qualitative case studies to illustrate how ideas about marriageability contribute to child marriage. Pressure to capitalize on a girl’s marriageability before it declines in order to secure the ‘best’ partner may explain why child marriage persists. We find that marriageability involves both eligibility—or perceived readiness for marriage—as well as desirability or ‘value’ on the marriage market. We propose that understanding marriageability in context, particularly in countries with limited evidence on interventions to address child marriage, is essential for suggesting ways interventions may critically examine notions of marriageability and disrupt pathways to child marriage. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[12s]: 78-87).

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