Experiences of Roma women with the phenomenon of early marriage: A qualitative study

Authors : Ömer Büber, Sarenur Beyenal, İsmail Akyüz

Pages : 397-425

Doi:10.48146/odusobiad.1469333

View : 24 | Download : 43

Publication Date : 2025-03-23

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The concept of early marriage, which refers to the marriage of children at an age when they are not cognitively and psychosocially ready, has many negative consequences. The Roma are among the communities where early marriages are common in Türkiye. Objective: In this study, the reasons for early marriage, marriage processes, difficulties of marriage, methods of coping with difficulties, and general views on early marriage of Roma women who married early were examined. Method: The study was conducted using a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews and a semi-structured questionnaire. The study group consisted of 18 adult Roma women selected by a purposive sampling method from the non-probability sampling type. The data were analyzed using the content analysis method. Findings: It was determined that the participants were married between the ages of 13-17, became mothers for the first time between the ages of 15-24, and half of them were illiterate. Education is an important factor in preventing early marriage. The two most important risk factors for early marriage were family unrest and a low education level. Conclusion: The study underlined the importance of education in preventing early marriage. The findings emphasize the need for improved awareness and intervention strategies to prevent early marriage among the Roma.
Keywords : Roman, kadın, erken evlilik, cinsel istismar