Behind the Scenes of Early Marriages: Lived Experience of Girls under 18 in Married Life (Saqqez County)

Marriage is a complex social phenomenon that can have varying connotations depending on the context. In cultural contexts where early marriage is prevalent, there are few studies that have investigated the perspectives and attitudes of women regarding the diverse aspects of marriage. Consequently, the current investigation employs a phenomenological approach to conduct a comprehensive analysis and to investigate the various layers of the lived experiences of females under the age of 18 in the context of marital life. To comprehend the broader context of their lives in relation to their early marriage experiences. By employing “purposeful sampling,” the following criteria were established for participant inclusion: residing in Saqqez, being of Kurdish ethnicity, and being under 18 years of age having encountered early marriage. Accordingly, eleven females under the age of 18 who had experienced early marriage were chosen for interviews. The participants’ average age was 17, and they had married at an average age of only 16. The researcher transcribed the interviews after they were recorded and analyzed them using Moustakas' phenomenological analysis method. The primary themes that emerged from the data analysis are as follows: illustrations, entry scenarios, considerations and gender/sexual roles, reactions of those in their vicinity, and the obstacles associated with early marriage. These themes were analyzed and interpreted on three distinct levels: textual, structural, and composite. The researcher initially provided a textual description of the participants’ experiences, utilizing meaningful phrases and themes. These phrases and themes were also employed to compose a descriptive account of the context or background that influences the participants’ experiences of the phenomenon (structural description). The researcher concluded by offering a composite description.