Child Marriage-

TANMOY MUKHERJI INSTITUTE OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE

Dr. Tanmoy Mukherji

Advocate

Child Marriage-

Tanmoy Mukherji

Advocate

1. Meaning of Child Marriage (Sociological Perspective)

→Child marriage refers to a social institution where boys and/or girls are married before attaining physical, psychological, and social maturity.

→From a sociological viewpoint, it is not merely a legal issue but a product of social structure, culture, and tradition.

2. Child Marriage as a Social Institution

Regulated by customs, traditions, caste norms, and kinship rules.

3. Causes of Child Marriage (Sociological Factors)

A. Economic Factors-

B. Cultural & Traditional Factors

C. Patriarchal Structure

D. Social Structure

E. Lack of Education

4. Sociological Theories Explaining Child Marriage

A. Functionalist Perspective-

B. Conflict Theory

C. Feminist Perspective-

5. Impact of Child Marriage (Social Consequences)-

A. On Girls

→Denial of education

→Health risks (early pregnancy)

→Domestic violence

→Loss of autonomy

B. On Family

→Intergenerational poverty

→Poor health outcomes

→Weak family stability

C. On Society

→High maternal & infant mortality

→Population growth

→Slowed social development

6. Child Marriage and Social Change

However, persistence due to:

→Cultural lag (Ogburn)

→Deep-rooted traditions

7. Role of Social Institutions

8. Child Marriage as a Human Rights Issue

9. Child Marriage in India – Sociological Reality

More prevalent in:

→Rural areas

→Economically backward regions

Higher incidence among:

→Marginalized communities

→Lower socio-economic groups

10. Measures to Prevent Child Marriage (Sociological Approach)

→Social awareness

→Women empowerment

→Community participation

→Education of girl child

→Change in social attitudes

From a sociological perspective, child marriage is a socially constructed problem sustained by patriarchy, poverty, and tradition. Its eradication requires social change, not only legal control.