Social Anthropology

Permanent URI for this collection

http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/22

Browse

Browsing Social Anthropology by Subject "Across Generations"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Change and Continuity in Early Marriage Across Three Generations among Selected Rural Communities in North Mecha Woreda, Amhara Region
    (Addis Ababa university, 2024-06-01) Tirusira Gebey; Guday Emirie (PhD)
    The overall objective of this study was to investigate change and continuity in early marriage across three generations (grandmothers, mothers and daughters’ generations) among Bachema and Kurtbahir Rural communities in North Mecha Woreda, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. More specifically, this study is aimed at: (1) exploring change in early marriage across three generations among the study communities by focusing on change in age at first marriage and its arrangement processes across three generations and reasons for such changes during the daughters’ generation among the study communities; and (2) investigating continuity in early marriage arrangement processes across three generations by further exploring factors contributing to the continuation of the practice of early marriage and its arrangement processes during the daughters’ generation among the study communities. To attain these objectives, primary data were gathered through a combination of ethnographic research methods involving in-depth interviews with extended cases studies across the three generations, focus group discussions, systematic observations, and key informant interviews. Secondary data were collected through review of related literature and relevant documents. The collected data were thematically organized and analyzed through triangulation of findings from different sources. The study found that the age at first marriage as well as the age at first childbirth has increased in the daughters’ generation due to several factors, of which the expansion of formal education and the increase in parents’ awareness about the health impacts (mainly fistula) of marrying their daughters at an early age are mentioned by the study participants as the major factors accounted for such change. The study also identified reasons for the continuity of the practice of early marriage during the daughters’ generation in both study communities for the past five years. Children's lack of interest in formal education, newly emerging love based marriages, parents’ desire to protect their daughters from premarital sex/pregnancy and family honor, life insecurity, and lack of government control and weak law enforcement are the major reasons for the persistence of the practice of early marriage during the daughters’ generation for the past five years, especially since the COVID-19 outbreak. Finally, the study concludes by suggesting possible areas for future research based on the implications of the major findings of the study. Key words: Early Marriage, Change and Continuity, Across Generations, Rural Communities, North Mecha Woreda