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Jennifer W. Sterling's avatar

This is disgusting!! I had no idea. We can’t drive, vote or go to war before a certain age, but we can give birth and get married any time??? It’s so back-ass-wards. Our brains aren’t fully developed before 25 but sure, let’s have sex and raise families at the age of 10. I feel sick just knowing any parent can allow this for their child and our govt isn’t doing their job. Wow! Thank you for helping me see something I wasn’t aware of.

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Linda Caroll's avatar

It is shocking, I was stunned when I learned about it. No age too young in some states really boggled my mind. You're very welcome! And thank you, too

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Mia's avatar

It’s appalling. Let’s keep in mind “having sex” is something that requires autonomy and consent, which these children are removed from. It’s R-A-P-E.

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Charity's avatar

That we even have to say this is wrong and outlaw it per state is just gross. It should be rejected offhand. This ain't 1490.

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Linda Caroll's avatar

Right? It's not 1490, why is this still a thing? I don't know either. Thanks, Charity!

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Charity's avatar

It shouldn't be. It ought to be summarily outlawed in every state, because apparently, people don't know any better. :P

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Mahek's avatar

As an Indian, I had no clue child marriages were so prevalent in the US even today. I wonder why not many people know of it, because we, from developing countries, often look at the US as some perfect country. Of course I have seen tv series and realized it's not all roses there. But like they can write and speak shit about our countries but ignore what's going on within their own country.

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thisaintkansas's avatar

That's bloody disgusting...ignorant parents and colluding adults. Poor, poor girls

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Linda Caroll's avatar

Right? Those poor kids. Some of them hunting online for someone to help them and it breaks my heart

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Ilona Goanos's avatar

I can't believe it--this is horrifying. We have so much work to do in this country, and it's completely overwhelming.

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Linda Caroll's avatar

You're so right. It's completely overwhelming. Just so many thing. So many of them affect women and girls, it breaks my heart

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Caroline Beuley's avatar

Oh my gosh, this was horrifying, but I'm so glad you shared Linda -- I had no idea! Why is more not being done about this?!

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Linda Caroll's avatar

I wish I had an answer to that, Caroline. Sometimes I shake my head at the things that get shoved in dark corners and no one knows. When I stumbled across it I was shocked

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David C Young's avatar

Dear author, you stated the reason in your writing; To "not ruin his life" is the answer. These marriages are solely to protect young men, who are pedophiles

Surely we can recall the rage at a judge giving a rapist, who raped a passed out woman, a mere six months in penalty. He was a young man, so the judge didn't want to "ruin his life"

That judge did not appear concerned about the woman's reaction to being raped, much less how that might affect her life. Not one minute of thought

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Patricia Finley's avatar

Make that 11 states. Colorado also prohibits marriage under the age of 18 generally. We allow marriage from 16 - 18 under certain circumstances and a guardian ad litem will be appointed in those circumstances to protect the child.

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Linda Caroll's avatar

That's good to hear Patricia. I would love to see it that way in every state

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Jessika Kearns's avatar

This is heartbreaking and so sad. In shock, I double-checked my state too. Looks like WA changed the law, as of June of 2024, to require both parties to have attained the age of 18, without exception. Of course, SO late to getting this done - but at least it's a law now. Probably would have been better for my parents if they'd not been able to get married at 16 due to pregnancy.

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Kathy Ayers's avatar

I was just about to look up CO. Thanks.

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Jen Dean's avatar

THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?! I hate us. And this damn world. I had no idea. I can add it to the long list of things to fight against.

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Marianne Epperson's avatar

I’m writing to my governor now. This needs to change.

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Donna Perry's avatar

Disgusting! How is this not illegal in every state??

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Linda Caroll's avatar

Right? RIGHT? It should be. And maybe one day it will be. But it's not that day yet.

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Marjorie Pezzoli's avatar

Unreal that this is happening

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Linda Caroll's avatar

Right? It really is. Thanks, Marjorie.

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Trudi Nicola's avatar

Shocking.

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Linda Caroll's avatar

It really is. Thanks, Trudi

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Julie Babis's avatar

So girls who can’t legally drink alcohol can be forced to marry, and frequently marry their rapist? So much for the land of the free

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Julie Babis's avatar

The mind boggles. If a guy doesn’t want to wreck his future life, all he has to do is keep his hands to himself and his pants zipped up 😡

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Rhymes With "Brass Seagull"'s avatar

I know, right? The backwardness and hypocrisy is so thick you could cut it with a knife!

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victoria walls's avatar

It’s a man’s world.

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Mars Le Fay's avatar

The US is the most backwards country on the planet. All others strive to go forward, except the U S of A.

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𝐀𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞's avatar

I know you’re disappointed with your country but hey..you know other countries have it worst right? In a lot of countries child marriage is common and isn’t looked down at as a disgusting thing, in my theocratic country, all marriages are arranged, and it's common for women to be forced into marriage against their will. America is bad compared to the West, not the rest of the world.

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Joseph L. Wiess's avatar

Texas banned it and codified that the minimum age to get married is 18. That was 2017.

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