Investigating Evangelical Christian Leaders’ Attitudes Towards Child Marriage Practice. The Case Study of Wonsho Woreda, Sidama Region, Ethiopia
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Date
2023-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Child marriage practice is one of major gender inequalities in the world. Evidence shows that in the world 250 million children were married before 15 years. Negative consequence of the practice costs countries to loss 2% of their gross domestic product. According to various studies religion is one of the social factors that drive child marriage in Ethiopia. As a consequence, the child brides from various forms of gender-based violence in the places where the practice is rampant. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate Evangelical Christian leaders’ attitudes toward child marriage practice in Wonisho woreda, Sidama region, Ethiopia. The study employed qualitative research to assess the perspectives and opinion of church leaders. To collect data, focused group discussion and key informant interview methods were employed to triangulate data. A Thematic analysis approach was employed to analyze the data. The major themes identified were church leaders’ attitude, economic factors, cultural factors, and religious factors, causes of child marriage, positive impacts, and negative impacts. The arguments of the study are based on classical liberal feminism and equalitarian liberal feminism. The attitudes of evangelical church leaders stem both from religious values and traditional rituals. As a consequence, some church elders agree that child marriage perpetuates social cohesion and social capital. However, results indicated that child brides encounter multidimensional forms gender-based violence. Sexual, economic, psychological, and physical are the major forms of gender-based violence. Based on the equalitarian liberal feminism argument the evangelical churches instill patriarchal and moralistic laws nuclear families to perpetuate gender system. Family counseling guideline which reiterates submission of wives to their husbands and advocacy of leadership role for husbands. Moreover, results of the study indicate that sermons of the churches could give attention to neither internal and domestic laws nor international conventions. This restricted the congregations specially women from appealing for their rights and body autonomy. Despite strict moralist laws that limits women access to options and increase risk of gender-based violence, the availability of different structures like youth, women, family, elders, and Sunday session are the major opportunities to child marriage response and prevention. Child marriage practice stems from a multifaceted factor. Thus, evidence-based responses and prevention strategies are imperative. Joint planning and advocacy initiatives among evangelical church leaders is advisable.
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Evangelical church leaders’ attitude, causes of child marriage, consequences.