Action Research

In 2016, we launched a study to investigate experiences of early marriage in Rajasthan as well as the nature and impact of Vikalp’s interventions to address the practice. The study will present and analyze findings from over 300 interviews with young brides and others in one of Vikalp’s key focus areas: the Mavli block of Udaipur district. It hopes to document experiences of child, early and forced marriage on three separate groups: married girls, married boys and older women. This is too holistically assess and compare the contextual factors that continue to drive child marriage and how it impacts on livelihoods. The study will also analyze how Vikalp’s interventions are helping shift these social norms and address the practice and its impact. The baseline findings from this study hope to be published in late 2017 and will help to inform our future work with married girls, boys and communities at risk of child marriage.

Early marriage is one form of violence which effects a vast number of adolescent girls in several parts of Nation. The research by Vikalp Sansthan and Tata Institute of Social Science explores the experience and perceptions of early marriage among young married girls(Married before 18), older married women and young men (married before 18). The study is located in 10 villages of Mavli Block in Udaipur District of Rajasthan state in northern India.

The participants in the research were 218 married girls and young women in two age categories:

• Those who were younger than 18 years at the time of study and
• Those who were 19-24 years old at the time of study but were married before the age of 18.

In addition, 200 older women (primarily mothers-in-law) who and been child brides were also interviewed in the same household to understand both the role of older women in shaping the experience of early marriage of the young brides and the changing nature of early marriage.

In addition, a selected sample of 50 young men from the same area also interviewed using a structured questionnaire to understand the role and experience of young men in the phenomenon of early marriage.

The research brings out the contextual issues, such as caste, tribe and poverty as well as community beliefs, attitudes and practices, and other intersecting social and economic factors that support early marriage. 

Glimpse of few Fact findings in reference to Early marriage

• 63% married in a common ceremony along with others siblings
• 40% had very short engagement & 36% 1 to 3 years prior to marriage
• Half the young women moving into their marital home by age 16
• 69% young married boys said “sometimes women deserve to be beaten”
• 82% young men said “women should tolerate violence from family members”