Should The Legal Age Of Marriage Be Raised To 18?

[naomi24]

Whilst it helps in bringing the issue of child marriage to the fore, it doesn’t address the reality that many of these marriages are conducted abroad, and others in religious ceremonies here which are unrecognised in British law. We can make efforts to prevent child abuse of this nature but I fear implementation of this proposed legislation will have very little effect.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jun/11/government-pledges-to-raise-legal-age-of-marriage-to-18-in-england-and-wales

[naomi24]

Good. Clear at last.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't believe simply raising the age will have any effect on this issue at all.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - // AH, haha! And you always so keen to keep threads on track. //

I do occasionally mention if threads are steering way off the original thrust of the debate, but that's because I enjoy debates with a degree of structure, not because I am a control freak.

I have never started a thread and then whinged at people in a school-marm'ish fashion because it's not going the way I think it ought to on the basis that I instigated it.

[jourdain2]

I am glad that this law has been brought in. There is a lot of confusion over childhood and adulthood and this clarifies it.
Having said that, I am not over-optimistic that it will work in any way against under-age religious marriages in some communities. I know from experience that I could tell girls, until I was blue in the teeth, that their mosque wedding (usually aged about 15) was not legal - and I might as well have breathed against a heavy brass door.

Well, it is as it is. I can't do much more except to say that I once attended a 'wedding' of a pupil's sister and I was horrified about the bride's status as a commodity (she was O.16).

[naomi24]

Jourdain, thank you for that. As someone who actually understands the problem you're like a breath of fresh air on this thread. Have a Best Answer.

[jourdain2]

I believe that it is now considered 'infra dig' to say thanks. :)

[naomi24]

:o)

[NeedToKnowPlease]

Yes. People under the age of 18 shouldn't be getting married. They don't even know what they want in life yet. Get some experience before you decide to lock yourselves down. Times have changed. Shotgun weddings aren't a thing anymore.