Full Breakdown
Urgent Call to End Child Marriage in the United States
11/25/2025, 12:52:10 AM
Overview of Child Marriage in the U.S.
A recent report co-authored by Unchained At Last and Equality Now highlights the ongoing issue of child marriage in the United States, calling for immediate legislative reform and increased awareness. Child marriage is defined as any formal or informal union involving individuals under the age of 18. Between 2000 and 2021, over 314,000 children were legally married in the U.S., with 86% of those being girls, many aged 16 or 17, and some as young as 10. The report emphasizes that girls typically marry older men, with an average age difference of four years.
Legal Landscape and State Variability
The absence of federal legislation on child marriage allows each state to set its own minimum marriage age, resulting in significant variability across the country. As of 2018, child marriage was legal in all states, but advocacy efforts have led to 16 states, one district, and two territories raising the minimum age to 18 without exceptions. However, loopholes remain, allowing marriages that would otherwise be classified as statutory rape to occur legally. The report indicates that at least 60,000 marriages since 2000 involved minors in situations that should have constituted statutory rape.
Consequences of Child Marriage
The ramifications of child marriage are extensive and detrimental. Fraidy Reiss, founder of Unchained At Last, states that marrying before 18 can adversely affect a girl's health, education, economic opportunities, and overall safety. Girls who marry young are significantly more likely to drop out of school, leading to a higher likelihood of lifelong poverty. Additionally, some marriages are conducted through religious ceremonies without state registration, complicating efforts to track and regulate these unions.
Advocacy and Future Directions
Advocates argue that legal reforms alone are insufficient to eradicate child marriage. Anastasia Law, a human rights lawyer, emphasizes the need for comprehensive approaches that include education, awareness, and protections for minors already married. The U.S. has committed to eliminating forced and child marriage by 2030 as part of the 2016 United Nations Global Program to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage. However, 34 states still permit child marriage, prompting organizations like Unchained At Last and Equality Now to intensify their lobbying efforts.
Criticism of Legislative Inaction
Critics, including Reiss, argue that misogyny plays a significant role in the slow progress toward ending child marriage. She points out that the majority of minors who marry are girls, and suggests that if boys were similarly affected, legislative action would be more prompt. Looking ahead, Reiss asserts that Unchained At Last will continue to pressure the U.S. government to fulfill its commitments, stating, “Making a promise is not enough. Keeping that promise is crucial.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s almost every aspect of your life,” — Fraidy Reiss, Founder of Unchained At Last
- “If a child is with an older adult, and in any other circumstance that relationship or sexual relations within that relationship would be considered statutory rape, they basically issue a ‘get out of jail free’ card for that relationship, just because they're married,” — Anastasia Law, Human Rights Lawyer
- “We need to implement education, awareness, safeguards, protections for minors who were already married before the minimum age was changed.” — Anastasia Law, Human Rights Lawyer
- “The reason they’re not moving quickly to do it is, in many cases, misogyny,” — Fraidy Reiss, Founder of Unchained At Last
The report serves as a crucial reminder of the need for concerted efforts to end child marriage in the United States, advocating for both legislative changes and societal shifts to protect vulnerable minors.
