Afghan girls' child marriage and its impact on their educational journey in Afghanistan

Abstract

Through the historical lens, education in Afghanistan has gone through many ups and downs, especially regarding women’s education and the challenges Afghan women face due to instability in female education. Education is essential for personal and societal advancement, but gender inequities, cultural norms, and continuous violence in Afghanistan limit access, especially for girls through child marriage. This study has three objectives: (1) to investigate the elements influencing parents' choices regarding their daughters' young marriages, emphasizing their lack of concern for education; (2) to explore the consequences of early marriage on Afghan girls’ educational opportunities, (3) to explore how educational opportunities contribute to a better life for Afghan girls. This study uses qualitative research methodology to investigate Afghan girls' child marriage and its impact on their educational journey in Afghanistan. The data were collected through semi-structured or in-depth online interviews. This study involved three types of participants: (1) parents, (2) married girls who continued their education, and (3) girls who married young and were unable to continue their education. The participants in this study are from different provinces of Afghanistan, comprising 20 participants. The study's findings identified (1) multiple factors that lead parents to decide on the early marriage of their daughters, such as safety concerns, cultural norms and expectations, economic pressure, a lack of parental education, and the ban on female education; (2) the consequences of early marriage on Afghan girls’ educational opportunities are the interruption of education, mental and physical health issues, and limited educational support; (3) education has a positive impact on Afghan girls' lives in terms of empowerment and independence, improved quality of life, resistance to harmful practices, and enhanced social status. This research addresses the data gap concerning child marriage and its educational consequences, offering new insights where limited studies exist. By highlighting the role of girls' education in sustainable development, the research aims to raise awareness and potentially reduce child marriages. It emphasizes the human rights violations inherent in child marriage and advocates for young girls' educational rights. The findings can assist national and international organizations in community awareness initiatives and inform evidence-based policymaking to end child marriage and promote girls' education. Ultimately, the study seeks to influence stakeholders to prioritize investments in girls' education and protection from early marriage, enhancing the quality and number of educated females in Afghanistan's workforce. Lastly, this research recommends a permanent international policy for Afghan women's education and human rights. In case of any political instability, women's education should be safeguarded.