My argument is that the marriage age should be increased for women in India; it should be at 21 years old. I said for women because for men it is already 21 years old.
Marital age should be increased for Indian women and it should be 21 years old. There are lots of reasons behind why it should be increased. I will try to give you an idea, if not fully then at least a brief idea that why the marital age should be increased for women in India? And in other words, we will try to see and find the answer to the commonly asked question “What is the Right Age for Marriage”?
In order to answer this question, we have to look at various aspects.
First, reasons should be provided for why we can’t continue with the older age rules. When women were allowed to get married in the 18th according to the constitution.
So let’s see what is the disadvantage in the marital age of 18th years? So if you see most of the people (students) they are in class 11th and 12th when they are at the age of 17th and 18th years old. And according to these sources, “the minimum age for appearing on the 10th board is 15th years.” So students are 15 years old while appearing in class 10th so in 11th class they should be 16th years old and in the class 12th they should be around 17th. So we can see that students who are in class 12th or in graduation’s first years at the age of 18th years.
Generally in rural areas, people look like they are in a hurry or in a rush to get their daughters married. Because the marriage age for women in India is 18 years (now March 15, 2022, maybe the age is 21 years. [Hindustan Times]). So in the village and in the semi-urban that happens when girls are passed class 12th their families start searching for a groom for the girl. There are lots of reasons behind it. The first is that they can get married because the Indian constitution gives them the right to get married at the age of 18th years. And there are other things as well like in villages there are not very good colleges where they can do their further studies. And if there is a college then it is expensive where they can’t afford it easily. So for further education, they have to go out of the station. And most of the families don’t allow their girls to go far from home. And because they can get married at the age of 18 so they get married. That is the reason why girls get married at an early age.
To prevent this early marriage we have to increase the age of women from 18th to 21th years.
This is the one reason we should be increasing the age of marriage because we are preventing girls from getting an education. And at the age of 18, they don’t know very much. And this action will cause them to spend their entire life in the kitchen. Because they didn't get a certain amount or level of education so how they will be able to stand on their own. So if the age of the marriage is 21th then they won’t get married at the age of 18 when they are doing their studies. At least they will have a sense that they can’t get married at the age of 18th. They have to wait till the age of 21 years of age. They can think for themselves and can think for their career.
At the age of 18, they didn’t choose any kind of career. They are trying to live their life, trying to explore life, and nature and make themselves ready for the future. But at the age when they should explore and all things that should be done they are getting married. I’m not against marriage but marriage is not a simple thing unless you are not physically, emotionally, financially and mentally ready for it. But at the age of 18, most of the girls do have none of them. And this leads them to depend on their husbands for all of them.
But at the age of 21 years, people seem like they kind of know what to do with their career and which way to go. And it seems like they can choose a good partner for themself. And physically, emotionally, financially and mentally is stronger than earlier. And they all think the need is any relationship other than you will lose your identity. So age should be increased so girls can make their own identities. And should be given a chance to stand on their own.
“Because marriage is about care, understanding, responsibilities'” and in order to fulfil those things men and women both should be physically, emotionally, financially and mentally prepared.
Now let's understand the biological factors behind it. Because after marriage there will be lots of factors that will come in and for every factor, our body is needed. Like all household worlds will take place. And there will be sexual relationships as well.
Because after marriage there will be child birthing.
But all things are not in a straight way at all in “India there are around 70% of women faeces domestic violence.” marital rape is one the form of domestic violence. When girls are not educated to a certain level when they are not aware that this kind of illegal activity can be more with them. If that happens then what will that girl do at that time? Lots of time the girls do not say anything about these kinds of activities because they might not be aware of their rights or might not be mentally, financially, or physically independent so she just keeps quiet. So in order to prevent this kind of illegal activity we have to make our girls educated. And to stop early marriage we have to increase the marriage age for women in India.
Let's say that there is no such thing as a marriage. All things are going well in a married girl's life. So after some time, there will be childbirth. So will it be good to have a baby at a very young age like 19 or 20?
If we see from biology, women can be pregnant after the age of 19 years old. Even some doctors say that pregnancy at the age of 19 or 20 is capable for women's bodies. That may be true, but women can be pregnant after they start getting periods. But that doesn't mean that just after 13 years old they should get married. For having a child, a woman should be mentally, physically and emotionally strong enough. “Biologically women may have children but they need all those things.”
And in the village people thinks that girls are not going to be always there for them but their boys will be there with them forever. That is why there is no need to do anything about girls but to do all the things for boys. I feel like girls will do so but let them do so. At least give them some time to do so. They are getting married at the age of 18th or 19 then what can they do for anyone else. Now she has other responsibilities as well. That is why I feel like rather than getting married at the age of 18 or 19, girls should be exploring new things exploring their career options. And should do for the society.