Reasons for early marriage of women in Zahedan, Iran: a qualitative study
Summary & Objectives
This qualitative study examines the reasons for early marriage among women in Zahedan, Iran, drawing on in-depth interviews with 36 women aged 18–35 who were married before age 18. The study aims to move beyond purely demographic or health explanations by centring women’s lived experiences and interpretations of why early marriage occurs, and how coercion, constraint, and agency intersect within specific cultural, economic, and gendered contexts. By documenting these perspectives, the study seeks to inform culturally grounded interventions that can reduce early marriage and mitigate its harmful consequences
Findings
The analysis identifies a multidimensional picture of early marriage structured around three dominant pathways. Early marriage often occurs as a form of coercion rooted in cultural traditions, gender norms, and family control, where girls have limited power to resist decisions made by elders and where marriage is used to regulate sexuality and behaviour. In other cases, early marriage is framed as a coping or problem-solving strategy, allowing girls to escape poverty, family conflict, neglect, or unsafe environments, even though the choice is made under severe constraint. A smaller subset of women described early marriage as voluntary, but this agency was uneven, ranging from informed and deliberate decisions to “imaginary agency,” where choices were driven by emotional pressure, limited information, and lack of life skills. Across all pathways, early marriage was frequently associated with disrupted education, marital conflict, psychological distress, and regret, although a minority of women with stronger support and preparation reported more positive outcomes
Recommendations
Efforts to address early marriage should prioritise culturally sensitive approaches that go beyond legal reform and directly engage with entrenched gender norms, family power structures, and local traditions. Interventions should focus on empowering girls with life skills, education, and accurate information about marriage, reproductive health, and rights, while also supporting families through counselling and economic and psychosocial support. Policies should distinguish between coerced and ostensibly voluntary early marriages, recognising that both often occur within constrained choice environments. Long-term change requires sustained community engagement, gradual norm transformation, and collaboration with trusted local actors to reduce resistance and prevent unintended harm
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