June 26, 2008
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Marriage Age
A Saudi Marriage official said last week that it’s ok for girls who are 1 year old to marry.
He said, “You can have a marriage contract even with a 1-year-old girl, not to mention a girl of 9, 7 or 8. But is the girl ready for sex
or not?” What is the appropriate age for sex for the first time? This
varies according to environment and tradition.” Here is the link: LinkWhat do you think is the youngest acceptable age for a person to marry?
Comments (129)
definitely not 1… 18 seems about right.
18. def.ly not 1.
ONE YEAR OLD?!
That’s preposterous.
For me, 21 is the starting age for marriage.
18
the human body isn’t ready for sex until around 15. And this guy sounds like he thinks that that is all marriage is about.
Whenever the person is ready to accept adult responsibility.
What the crap?!?!? No one has the cognitive reasoning to make a decision like that at that age. People can barely do it in their twenties!
HAHAHA, now all those Precious Moments pictures of babies kissing babies can come true!
Well, you know, those Saudis are total sluts.
Wow 1 is far too early for marriage (and I would hope they wouldn’t consider it okay for sex either).
Personally I think the best age to marry is the age when you get your shit together (which varies). Once you know who you are, want you wish to become/do with your life and of course are mature enough and have the emotional and financial means to handle it, then go ahead and get married.
I think it differs greatly from person to person. As a general rule, I’d say around twenty or twenty-one.
This seems really odd.
-30 years. It’s a bit weird marrying off unborn grandchildren.
Great.
A child giving birthday to a child– hmm
in my country we get married at around twenties years old..
Ummm, considering the supreme court ruling today, old enough for me to pin and not almost bleed to death?
Seriously, grow up faster, or take some iron pills. Go.. I mean Allah blessed this union so it is ok.
uh…definately not at ONE year old, that is for sure!! Holy crap that would suck!
I have friends who are 24 that are getting married and i think thats too young. I say 28.
@Drakonskyr - hahahaha!
I don’t think you should get married till 21. From 18-21 you mature a lot. I have known a lot of people who married young and divorced by 20.
I can’t say what is an appropriate age for marriage in definite terms, as I believe everyone reaches that point of emotional maturity at a different time, though I would be inclined to say twenty. However, one year old is not even remotely a consideration as a reasonable age.
27 sounds about right. maybe later.
I think they have it right in Europe. The average age of firs time newlyweds is somewhere in the mid 30′s. Why do you think we have such a high divorce rate here in the states? The 20′s are a time of self discovery. More than likely the person you think is right for you at 22 will not be the person you think is right for you at 30. We are such an impatient bunch of people here in the U.S. We want everything. NOW.
I think in a society where people aren’t expected to go to college and make it to the top of their careers, 15 or 16 sounds about right. In Western culture, it would have to be higher because we have different cultural expectations. Getting married under 18 seems really weird to our society, but for a society with different values and different expectations of what life should and will be like, marrying at a very young age isn’t such a terrible thing. But I would not say younger than 15 because before that, the girl isn’t physically developed enough. Arranging a marriage for a baby is a bit much, though. How can you tell what kind of person your baby or the other baby will grow up to be? Why risk arranging a marriage to someone would could turn out to be a horrible person when it’s too early to notice any warning signs?
It’s different for different people. Not all people are ready at a certain age. Some people mature faster than others.
I was married at 19.
I really don’t know. I think 18 should be the youngest. Before that just seems too soon. Kids these days are too rushed to grow up. Even 18 is young
18?
Legally, I think 18 ought to be youngest acceptable age for a person to marry. Beyond that, however, I think the acceptable age to marry varies from person to person and place to place, and it’s based on each person’s desires, lifestyle, level of maturity, and cultural expectations (as EccentricSiren mentioned). In my opinion, most people should not marry until they are at least in their early to mid-twenties.
I came from a town where it was perfectly acceptable to be married at 15 or 16. Not saying it was the right thing to do, but it was pretty much the thing to do since they were going to take over the farm lands and quit school anyways…
For me, 18 was the age I was old enough to have sex and comprehend what was the end results (not saying that I didn’t do it beforehand). I guess if I could accept the fact of that terms of commitment, then I could take getting married.
um…yikes.
I’m seriously debating whether or not to post on this particular topic, but at least for me, I needed to be legal to drink before I got married. Since that has passed, whenever the h%ll I feel like it…
30.
Child Abuse ok’ed because its called Marriage??????? Sick.
21.
90
…….
divided by 5
add 3
a girl shouldn’t have sex before like, 14. I think 16, but maybe I’m too conservative? maybe 15.
making a person marry someone they don’t love, no matter what age, is wrong. it’s one thing if they’re like 60 and lonely [then its more of a pairing then a marriage], but to do it a kid, is wrong.
in Saudi they don’t view marriage like we do, so I can understand their p.o.v. I still dont agree with it though.
That’s sad…
Earliest age - maybe 16.
What?!?!
WHAT?!?!?!
I’m sorry that’s hard for me to believe. Not even the Saudis are that retarded.
Holy crap.
Oh, sorry. I don’t believe anything FOX news says.
21, so you can drink at your wedding. =]
P.S a girl shouldn’t have sex before AT LEAST 13.
well maturity varies amongst each individual, but in my personal opinion I’d say 18 youngest
It really depends on the culture/
In the USA in 2008, 20 seems really young to marry, but acceptable.
18, people cringe.
16 no way.
In other parts of the world, 15-16 might be the best most appropriate age.
1 seems ridiculously creepy, even if the parent will still keep custody of the child. But arranged marriages are also something based on cultural values.
Oh, Fox news!? That is a total propaganda channel, who knows now if thats even true.
18 onwards. even so they may be still mentally young to grasp the concept of marriage.
18 at the youngest…but more ideal-ly after age 21.
I think it should be, for the most part, based on love. I’m a Christian though, and we marry for life. There’s no divorce if you decide you don’t like me anymore. We’re GOING TO work it out. If you find the love of your life at 15 and both of you are willing to commit your lives to each other FOREVER and be mature about it, then hey, go ahead and get married [with consent from your parents and such, based on the laws]. As to people being allowed to marry at age 1, that’s a little preposterous. I do think arranged marriages can work, and for the most part, I’m not against them. I guess if it’s two one-year-olds in another society, that could be culturally accepted, but if you’re some creepy 40-year-old marrying a 1 year old, that’s weird. The article does state though that sex must be postponed which, of course, is good. I wish it said who is marrying 1-year-olds though. What’s the ago group of the boys marrying one-year-old girls?
I don’t think you should get married until you’re mature enough to handle adult responsibilities and have your life in order so you have the means to support a family. My grandparents got married at eighteen and they were together for forty-five years, until my grandpa died of cancer. Some people aren’t mature enough at eighteen to get married. Depends on the person. Some people need to wait until they’re in their thirties. For others, eighteen is just fine.
To the Saudis I say… Just because Muhammad had sex with his youngest wife when she was nine doesn’t make it right! A young woman’s body isn’t even ready for that until she is in her later teens. Having sex with a child makes you a sick, perverted pedophile.
I’d say after high school, so 18? At least you have a chance of landing a half decent job.
it definatly varies by person. 1 being way way to young. In certain cultures 15 would work. in the US anything younger than 17 is definatly to young. anything between 17-20 is fairly questionable I think.
97.
Oh, my goodness! One year old?! I’ll say 18.
WHAT! I didn’t even know what to say when I first read that.
That is absolutely Crazy! First of all, why would somebody want to marry a one year old? And second, the answer to your question, probably 18 or 19. It all just depends on the person and the situation and the relationship the two people have.
I’d say that getting married any younger than 22 or 23 is playing with fire but as for a real lower limit of what is acceptable I’d say probably 18.
Ever hear of “consent”? Wow. Do you say “I do?” Does a baby burp count?
I suppose 18 for the earliest. Or 21…considering he/she wouldn’t be able to legally drink at his/her wedding, which would be a lil’ sad.
Whenever you feel emotionally/mentally mature, minimally 18+.
I would absolutely -hate- being proposed to once I’m 30+, especially since I want to try waiting it out before having babies. (X_x;)
I suppose I’m traditionalist on the inside by saying I don’t wanna be hit by PMS/Crazy lady stage when my kids are hitting puberty.
Definitely not one! Too many people around me that are my age (20) are getting married and I feel that is WAY too young because they’re not mature enough. They think they are, but really, they’re still kids.
Oh my goooosh… If America weren’t so in bed with the Saud family, we wouldn’t have to make deals with sick people like that.
I think the line should be drawn at 18. Some people should wait, but it’s not up to me to decide a thing like that. 18 is the minimum I figure.
Oh yeah, and I think it’s interesting that they’re saying one-year-old girls… not one-year-old boys.
Not that I want one-year-old boys marrying anyone. I’m just saying it’s interesting. It’s kind of like the polygamists who stand against polyandry.
18 to 20 maybe?
even that i dont think they’re matured enough to chose who they want to be with or cant live without..
Well considering Saudi’s regard (rather their disregard) for women this should come as no surprise. Sure glad I’m not a baby girl living in that culture.
When the are responsible enough to make the decision for themselves. According to American law that would probably be at 18, though I would say depending on the person 16 or 17 year olds can be mature enough to make that decision.
i think 18′s fine.
One years old is crazy.
I believe that you should be older than 18 and have your life in order and are truly ready for marriage. I am 22 years old and I still don’t feel like I am ready. I love my boyfriend truly but we have a few years or more to go before the I do’s. It just depends on when you feel ready.
1 is ridiculous, 21 more reasonable, but lots of people aren’t ready at 21, either. Depends on the person and the situation. I think the couple should be finished with college, have jobs and be ready, in all ways, for that responsibility and commitment.
I’d say around 16 or 18. But then again, that is the age in America and we have so many divorces…Maybe marriage to a 1-year-old helps keep the couple together as they are “family” right from the start.
^ Well, maybe betrothed at that young age, but not married.
18 and up
I was 22
being a wife is more than being a sex toy. there’s a great deal of maturity that needs to be present in both the husband and wife in order for a marriage to be functional. marrying a 1 yr old is cruel- i cannot imagine the abuse such little girls will endure. that Saudi official is sick- but he’s a product of their culture which holds women as being less than property. the death rates of girls and women in the Middle East are much higher than that of their counterparts and there’s hardly any such thing as justice for the female. if a woman gets raped it’s somehow her fault- not her attacker’s and she will likely be stoned as an honor killing by her family and at best the man might get whipped. there’s no excuse for such incredulous injustice and there’s certainly no justification for marrying a baby- they can’t reproduce at that age, they can’t understand their role as a wife and take on their share of marital responsibilities, they’re CHILDREN and they still need to be raised themselves. what kind of sicko wants to have sex with someone still in diapers anyways???
I think that a girl should at least be a teenager- a VERY VERY mature teenager- preferably 16 or older before marriage even becomes a consideration. and while I recognize there are exceptions where younger girls may very well be capable, these are rare and i would question the motives of the man wanting to marry such a young person.
Probably no younger than 15 or 16. Before then, the brain hasn’t developed enough for the involved party to make any sorts of long-term decisions. While it’s not perfect at 15/16, it’s much better than in earlier years. Personally, I’m almost 19, and I definitely still think I’m too young to be married, even though I’ve been in a stable relationship for 2 and a half years now. I couldn’t imagine being married before I’m out of college and have a real job.
@awth44 - You haven’t met the 10, 11, and 12 year olds who are having sex of their own volition, around where I live. I felt that I was physically ready for sex at 14, though I didn’t have sex for emotional/psychological reasons until a couple of years after that.
21
18 please.
older than 18- I’m 18 getting married and already have my divorce attorney planned out
for people or dogs?
marriage between people who are not old enough to recognize the significance is just words. sure you can have the words, but they mean nothing at all.
So the youngest age should be when someone has reasoning capacity enough and emotional maturity enough to make the decision themselves.
so… judging from empirical evidence… probably…
never.
Sounds more like a “claim” than anything… still disgusting.
WOW!!!! 1?!!! O_O”” Geez, that’s too early for marriage!!!! >_<
For me, I think the youngest acceptable age for marriage would be around 21. Even older…
There is something really wrong about changing your own wife’s diapers. Maybe it’s just me.
Depnds whether you’re civilised or a barbarian like the Saudies.
I assume it is a contract between familes for a couple the same ages. Happens all over the prilmitive world. It just means they are committed. They don’t actually get married until they are early teens, I think.
Legally: 18. Though my personal choice would be 21 or 22.
Because some men love to change their wife’s diapers.
Somewhere in the 20′s sounds good. 21, most likely.
97
I’d say it depends on the person’s maturity level. If i HAD to pick a number i’d say 22.
WHAT?! Now I’ve heard of marrying young, but 1 is just murdering the envelope.
I think myself to a non-prude but having a marriage contract made with someone who can’t even understand the concept of a contract is preposterous.
I think 18 is appropriate. I was 19 when I got married, and everyone told me I married young! But at least I wasn’t1…
Now, are they talking about actually marrying a 1-year-old, or just arranging a future marriage for a 1-year-old? And the Saudis don’t actually care about their women. Women are just property without rights in that country. It doesn’t suprise me that they sell their daughters off in marriage at any age.
Definately over the age of 18- Some “PEOPLE” may never be ready though… (My ex husband is the perfect example of that!)
The youngest acceptable age I would say is 18 because legally you are no longer a minor. I’m not saying everyone should get married at 18, you need to have your life in order, should be in love, be financially stable, have a job, and be responsible. People shouldn’t get married until they can take on all of the responsibilities.
@GhostBenjimon - similar to how Allah blessed anna nicole smith’s union with that old fart before she croaked. right?
People really shouldn’t be getting married before the age of thirty. I don’t care how mature you are and grown up you are for your age, we’re all still stupid, young and naive! Live life, get a career going, buy a home, then get married.
I have read many true stories about women who had arranged marriages. The way they usually work them is they marry them really young then have them live together when the girl ‘becomes’ (meaning she starts her period) a women and now has the ability to have children. And hopefully sons.
SEX should definantly wait. No duh. I am not for arranged marriages but if the cultures go like that, then fine. This isn’t really any new news to me. :/ Happens all the time in different countries.
I married at 21 and thought that was pushing it!!! I’d say 19.
Well I suppose in Saudi Arabia, the girls don’t get much choice in the matter anyway, but one year old? Girls should definitely not be having sex until they’ve at least finished puberty and whatnot. I mean, come on. Biologically, that just makes sense as how God intended it to be, right? So shouldn’t they hold off with the marriages until at least that age.
@Endowedbythecreator - I’ve been poring over the Koran to find something about Allah frowning upon the mutilation of one’s body. Those TITS!!! Did you see those TITS? Christ almighty…
It’s proving difficult though, I don’t read Sanskrit, I mean Hindi… Japa… oh fuck it.
Ha, joke’s on them if she grows up to be ill or infertile, isn’t it?
Seriously, in Saudi Arabia, this would just be a contract for buying another man’s property. Girls from “good families” are purchased young.
Disgusting, no matter what the cultural mores of that society.
I’d say 18. But I guess 16 would be ok. At age 16 you’re old enough to consent but you’re not necessarily responsible enough to make that kind of decision yet.
why on earth would anyone want to be married???
1 yr,,, hahahahahaha,,,, chunk them down in the basement and store them a few years,,, i guess that would work,,, every time one of my old ladys hits 40 i like to trade them in for 2 20 yr olds,,,,
i dunno,,, ask the kid i guess…..
as far as iranians (my racial slur for all cabezas de toalla) nuke em,,, and be done with em,,,,, now that would be a party……
They should at least hit puberty. Ideally they should have the cognitive ability and right to refuse it as well.
18
14 for girls and 16 for boys as an absolute global limit. In our culture, I’d say at least 18 for both males and females.
I think, with parental consent, that the age for marriage (and consentually sex, with or without parental consent, lol) should be 16. If you don’t have parental consent, it should be 18.
eh, 16… yeah.
Meshuggah.
@Color_me_Karma - ”whenever you get your shit together” is exactly right!!
It totally depends on culture. In western culture; whenever you’re finished all the schooling you wanna do/whenever you feel you’re ready & meet the right person…
In other cutures, where arranged marriages rules society [not to say its a bad thing.. I'm indifferent], I say as soon as she gets her period, send her off to that arranged husband. Our bodies know better than our minds. At least they did when we were first created.
So yeah. My theory is period + arranged husband = marriage with consumation.
If they wanna arrange marriages for a 1 year old, go for it. consumate when the red river flows. *shrugs*
27
By “get married” this guy means of course “be married,” i.e. be disposed of as a piece of property in an arranged marriage, a common fate in patriarcal societies for those second-rate citizens known as women. Sex doesn’t necessarily enter into it. Ownership does.
A thought has just struck me. Drakonskyr proved very popular in the bare chest display Dan recently arranged; can we auction him off?
Opinions, opinions: how many cows, goats or camels would you give to have The Drak as a Slave Boy?
18, maybe for some. For me, probably 23 or 24.
That cult in Texas, not once did I hear that it was sinful to have multiple wives or underage wives. This was before the same-sex marriage debacle in California( where same-sex first cousins can now marry). The media didn’t once mention that what those cult members were doing was sinful because then other odd forms of marriage would be subject to being called sinful. Anything goes now America. Marriage at age 1. Why not? There are no absolutes it seems now and who cares about the will of the people, the voters of California?
Soon to reap the whirlwind.
@EccentricSiren - That’s exactly the point I was about to make. When there’s not much to go forward on education it doesn’t seem like a bad idea to marry at 15, even though it’s considered early for those who still have maybe ten more years of education.
Well, I don’t know this for sure, but I suspect that a marriage contract and a marriage are not entirely the same thing. Isn’t this coming from a culture that arranges marriages? Isn’t this guy really saying that it’s okay to plan and sign a contract with the guy’s family for a 1 year old to be married, eventually?
But yeah, whenever you get it together, which can be pretty young for some, but usually not so young for most. I’m almost 30 and whether I’m ready, I dunno, I’m getting close, I think.
that is just wrong in my opinion…i think it should be decided upon by the person not for the person!!
If your a damn pedophile I suspect that would be any age don’t you agree?
back in the days people would get married at the age of 13-14. the life expectancy was not so great. but this one year old thing is just out of this world. so much for the conservative traditional islamic traditions. that is one thing i had respected about islamic society. their conservative views. radical as it was they still respected traditions and authority.
That sounds just a smidge ridiculous. I’d say 18 sounds like a good age. I mean i’m only 15 and i know i’m still not ready for marriage. I love my boyfriend don’t get me wrong but i’m nowhere near ready for marriage.
Physically, 18 but they are not mentally ready to get marry until they are at least 21.
Physically, I would say at least 16. Mentally, I would say at least 18 to 21.
Well, i have watched the video clip. And then what he is saying could be really apllied to the Islamic Law. And of course to the Christian Law, 18 is the right age to get married and have swex for the first time.
Thanks.
18-21 defently not one.. the child hasnt gotten a chance to live life free… and she defenetly hasnt had the time to find love… shes ONE! its not right…
Between 25 and 30… you actually begin to settle in to your own skin around then, and the marriage is more likely to work because you are more mature sexually and mentally.
Being as I’m heading down the route of child development, an 18 year old getting married is pushing it for me, and a one year old is just completely ridiculous. Your frontal lobes (The reason center for adults) aren’t even finished developing let alone even your amygdala (The fear/emotional/reason center for adolescents and children).
The Saudi Marriage official needs to be smacked.
@mizzahlcyn - where in the Christian Law does it say that? I was raised Christian and I’ve never heard that.
definitely not under 16. funny. Just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns and was deeply disgusted by the past middle aged man who had sex with two of the young teen characters.
16 is the absolute youngest. 18 is more culturally accept. Early twenties is probably the best.
23 to marry. defiantly.
not 18..that shows your a slut.
Marriage entails a state of both physical and mental maturity, as it requires the couple to leave behind the homes in which they were raised and start a new one for themselves. It involves commitment beyond a sense of self and the personal responsibility in all facets that only a well-reared adult can understand and cope with. It also involves the ultimate commitment- bringing children into the world and raising them with the proper love and guidance so that they, too, may take this same step when they’re ready.
It’s hard to see how this can happen with any reasonable expectation of success below the age of 18. It has, even in America, been consummated at 14 and even below- but this is hardly a good thing. Children need to see their childhood through. Personally, I’d opt for 20 as the age of adulthood.
TWENTY-ONE
(and I spell that out in capital letters to emphasize it)
Ack…1 years old sounds kinda brutal.
I’d say 18 as a minimum marriage age. But if I could, I would sooner. ^^
Eighteen.
A one year old being married is absolutely ludicrous.
She’d be married for as long as she could ever remember living.
What would be the purpose of such a union?
There wouldn’t be one.
And I should say that for whomever is getting married, they should probably be required to be coherent enough to understand the ceremony and to be able to stand at the altar.