Legal minimum age of marriage to rise to 18. Good or bad?

Question

Until today people in the UK could get married at 16 or 17 if they had parental consent and there was no law against ceremonies for younger children which were not registered with local councils.

Now a law change in England and Wales has risen it to 18. Scotland and Northern Ireland remain at 16.

Do you think this is a good idea in a multicultural landscape where people have different beliefs? Or is it a good idea to stop abuse?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64748930.amp

www.gov.uk/.../legal-age-of-marriage-in-england-and-wales-rises-to-18

xHoneyxBeex · Accepted Answer

Anything like this that could help decrease child abuse and exploitation is a good idea in my opinion. The brain is not fully developed at 16 to make a decision like that (of course it’s not fully developed at 18 either but raising the age limit may at least help a little). I also seriously question anyone who would consent to their 16 year old child getting married. I’m fully aware of different cultural practices and I always try to be respectful of different beliefs but when it comes to protecting children, I think the government has the right to set limits like this.

There are a lot of things that are normalized and encouraged in different cultures but that doesn’t mean *everything* should be legal in a society that primarily does not share that cultural practice, particularly when it comes to the safety and well-being of children. I think it’s extremely important for multicultural countries to balance respect for varying belief systems while also having certain standards and laws in place to protect vulnerable people. While there is a fine line there and some people may be offended, each country still needs to do what they feel is best for their overall population.

Aerissa_Jade · Accepted Answer

Whatever, they can still live with someone and pretend to be married, after all so few are getting married anyways these days.

What does a number change matter for something that isn't likely to happen?

Here one can still get married at 16 with parental consent OR a court order. If a teen have a baby she is emancipated and can get married whenever, regardless of her age.

All one has to do to get married under 16 is have a baby.

Most don't get married anyways, tons of men and women in late 20's who aren't married and likely never will be.

It probably won't make a difference in them raising the age to 18, but it makes sense as that is the age of adulthood but at the same time the age of adulthood should probably be lowered or at least teens trained better for adulthood rather than, your 17 and 11 months your still a kid... its your birthday, your an adult, good luck.

Guy13 · Accepted Answer

Formal law moving minimum age from 16 to 18 is the best choice. The benefits for sixteen (16), with their new driver's license and okayed for marriage, are ultimately Self focused. 16(s) have not yet tasted freedom so moving from one structured environment into another seems natural and thoughts such as kids graduated from college by 40, virgins, 16 to death planning, 65-75 wedding anniversary, and the like pervade an immature and fantastic minded 16 year old child.

For the 16 group there is likely zero chance of considering any of the following such as the financial status of mate or requesting credit report, pregnant at 17-18 and no friends, and likely no university. Very probable that this age group is living in a storybook fantasy land.

When married at eighteen (18) the choices are clear. It often comes down to Marriage or Education. More times than not, "we can hold tight until 21 if it was meant to be", comes into play making trajectory for success much more likely. This outcome is the best as both are able to find decent employment and establish a home better suited for Family and children.

ObscuredBeyond · Accepted Answer

If Saddiq Kaaaaaahhhhnnn runs amok for too long, none of this will matter. Migrants from the Middle East that want to marry 9 year olds to be like Muhammad are going to make demands, and the UK will bend the knee to not appear "racist."

So rather than reassess the thought process, and repent of Wokeism, the UK will distract itself by virtue signaling. Some 4-year-old boy will laugh at seeing an old Gumby cartoon, and some nut job will decide that's racist because Gumby is racist, because somehow he just is. The miserable bum will call the cops on that little boy, and the Macarena Patrol will cart him off to jail. Take that, "racism"!

PJW will then release a video about the incident, along with 15 other examples of the Macarena Patrol making fools of themselves. I'll share it on Facebook, and half my readers will wish to live in denial that such stupidity can be real.

I know I sound cynical, but I've seen enough to know that lately, in the UK, what Clown World wants, Clown World gets.

Leopard23 · Answer

No. In America we've all sorts of different laws regarding marraige and sex when really it should be simplified. A person in one state (law normally only applies to men) might get jailed and put on a register for doing what's perfectly legal and common in another state.

The US is on of the worst countries for this infantilisation of teens when you can have sex under 17 depending on whether it's with someone under 17 and then there's romeo and juiliet laws which means as long as you are not more than 2-3 years older its legal but you can operate a car at 16, play football at 14, join the military at 17 but can't drink alcohol at until 21, you can take hormones and get a sex change at 16, have abortions at any age. In some dates you can sex with a 14 year provided there's written consent from a parent or guardian. Yiu can have sex with a 14 year old in some states provided you are married.

Personally I think there should be one age for everything and that's 16.

mstbooblover · Answer

Difficult to answer by yes or no, but what I know for sure is that a 16 year old girl is far easier to manipulate. In case of doubt I'd say 18 years to be the minimum age to marry, but with, in very specific circumstances to be decided by a judge, a legal possibility for the girl to be younger, but certainly not under 16 years.

Rosexøxø · Answer

I don’t think the law should force themselves into young adults’ love and sex lives.

If they choose to commit to each other and make it work for the BOTH of them. That’s awesome, if they can wait for marriage if that’s what they BOTH truly want, that’s even better.

AviatorTom · Answer

18 sounds reasonable. It's the legal "age of maturity" in most countries, where the individual is legally responsible for the decisions they make.

RavVid · Answer

Overall it is good I think. A 16 yo is still a child. In some cultures arranged marriages are still common. In reality they are forced marriages because of the societal pressure to go through with it.

I think it was on GAG, but could have been elsewhere, that a guy described how an arranged/forced marriage stuffed up his life.

Paul_in_Indy · Answer

Well, “forced marriage” should be prevented as much as possible. I am not sure that this change will achieve that. I suspect that it is just about as easy for your family to force you into a marriage you don’t want at 19 years old as at 16.

Horse-girl · Answer

I think it's a good idea, your brain doesn't finish developing until 21 so even 18 is a bit early to decide such an important thing as devoting your life to someone. I know you can get a divorce if it doesn't work out but for me marriage is for life. 😊

Zandoval · Answer

It is a very good idea. Many Muslims get their kids married off to their own cousins in the UK, I've had a friend who was forced to by 18. Some also get arranged married to some rando in the East. This is because there is no age limit for marriage in Islam. You can marry even a 6 year old. Their own Prophet Muhammad, married a six year old and slept with her at 9 when he got his dowry. So that's the ideal.

exitseven · Answer

I think it is a good thing Young people today lack the skills to survive in the world that peprevious generations developed. Marriage is hard enough as it is without having to figure out how to be an adult at the same time.

DJB72 · Answer

Not a terrible idea - as long as school leaving age and the age you can join the armed forces goes up as well.

I've always thought it was stupid having consent to have sex at 16 but you can't buy a magazine depicting it for another two years. Not being able to buy the champagne for the wedding at 16 is kinda stupid too.

Mangospacho · Answer

I don’t know of any person who has actually gotten married before they turned 18. I think it’s too much of a hassle to get parental consent (like most parents are even going to approve of their 16-year old marrying a 17-year old) and/or a court approval to get into one of these marriages. I’m not sure about the UK but there isn’t a problem in the US with people getting married too young.

Anonymous · Answer

I think it's a good thing but if the idea was to tackle abuse in a multicultural society then I'm assuming it was supposed to act as some sort of barrier against forced marriages which isn't a common thing among Europeans. I don't think it'll make much change other than forcing things like this deeper into secrecy or having the marriages done outside the country where the British law doesn't apply. Realisticly you would only need to drive into Scotland

jennifer_bloom · Answer

I think age difference laws work just as well as minimum age marriage laws. A 17 year old should not be jailed for marrying an 18 year old but a 60 year old should be jailed for marrying an 18 year old.

Jessica405 · Answer

I doubt it will achieve its aims. Like trying to ban porn or using age verification. There are places and web sites outside the jurisdiction of UK.

Breanna_nonbinary · Answer

Considering that the brain doesn’t fully develop until around the age of 25, raising the minimum age to 18 can only have positive results. It means that people will have more time to wait and think about what they really want.

snackthatsmilesback · Answer

Nice. If they wanna get married they can just keep having the relationship for a couple years. If it doesn't last the 2 years then prolly good they didn't get married anyway

jshm2 · Answer

It's just more Tory government bullshit of being seen to do something.

There are many bigger issues they could be dealing with instead, but they require thinking and hard work. Two things a Tory MP and voter will never have.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

I think it's okay for a girl to get married at 16, but there should be a maximum age cutoff for the guy. Like, he has to be no older than 18 or 19. We shouldn't have 40-year-old marrying 16-year-olds.

StormChaser838 · Answer

Bad , u need to be at least 25 to get married. More important for men. Most marriages at the 16 , 17 etc, end bad. And the main sufferings are the children who grow up in broken homes.

WonderBell99 · Answer

I don’t see how this could have a negative impact on anyone. I applaud the UK government for coming to its right senses. Nobody under the age of 18 needs to get married.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Yeah. 16 and 17 is too young. What can you know about commitment at that age? Even 18 is too young I think

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Still too young. I would abolish marriage from the legal system entirely. Then and only then does this conversation make any sense.

Anonymous · Answer

i think it should be raised to 25... seriously. no ones brain is done developing until 25, you make the dumbest decisions and mistakes under that age. divorce is also a higher outcome getting married younger.

Jennz6 · Answer

Not if you’re pregnant 🤰, if they do that then they should make a minimum age for sex

Drumlin2001 · Answer

Good. No reason for a 16yr old to get married. A 16yr old can't even take out a phone contract, if their not trusted with that then marriage should really wait till they're legally adults

Adaeva · Answer

Who knows what is best. For thousands of years girls often married in their very early teens and typically the marriages were successful.

Twalli · Answer

Legal age of marriage should be the same as age if consent. If you can legally consent to sex, you can legally consent to getting married.

Djaay · Answer

The polarity of marrying young has greater benefits for both. Those amongst us in society that just can't conform to uniformity will always call out where they can't fit and call it inconceivable for others as well.

Adam1978 · Answer

If they going to change marriage it's not the age that is the issue. It's the unfairness if it ends.

Berethor · Answer

I don't think that it good, age of consent in UK is 16, so why age of marriage should be 18?

worldscolide · Answer

I would absolutely support this. I can't stand the idea of children getting married or child brides. Just seems wrong.

sheenagwapa · Answer

i think it's fine. why in a hurry to get married anyway

standardguy · Answer

I think that such a massive change must not be done in such a way. Without the consent of all parts of the UK. There's something fishy if Scotland and Northern Ireland are against it

Anonymous · Answer

Good I say. It reminds me of the song, ‘James, James; I’m packed and I’m a coming, James, James, hold the ladder steady.’

Surely · Answer

What about the under 18 pregnant girls by under 18 sperm providers? Or did they ban under 18 sex too?

AngryCarl2 · Answer

Shouldn't it be the same as the age of consent? You don't want kids having sex out of wedlock surely?

SpokenTruth · Answer

No it's not a good idea it's not about nor has it ever been about protection abolish it completely get rid of it.

SunnyRS · Answer

It's a good decision according to me, it gives kids more time to think about what they are doing and can they keep a healthy married relationship.

msc545 · Answer

Probably a good idea. Marriage is so bad that letting children do it is basically child abuse.

Anonymous · Answer

Should be 30, because before then your brain hasn't fully developed and you don't realise how dumb marriage is

AmeerX · Answer

The marriage age should be 14 with parental consent and 17 without parental consent

007kingifrit · Answer

if they are past puberty it should be fine to get married

Amur8711 · Answer

I think it should be 18 across the board for marriage.

Tyrael · Answer

I live in Scotland and 18 seems reasonable to me.

jimmy2 · Answer

It's up to them I got married at18 we lasted 36 years

Anonymous · Answer

Personally, I think people need to have their minds checked before marriage. I think the least age 25 or max would be 30.

Iron_Man · Answer

Its still young but better

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Good. Most young marriages end in divorce any way

Bricealan · Answer

Probably a good move.

fonduegirl · Answer

It should be 21. Teens are immature.

Texaskid1 · Answer

18 sounds good to me.

DarkLegacy · Answer

I agree with this law change

genericname85 · Answer

it should be 21 in my opinion xD

Anonymous · Answer

It's good because kids are stupid.

Anonymous · Answer

It should be at least 25.

OddBeMe · Answer

Good. It’s barbaric otherwise. And religious.

Luopio27 · Answer

I think 18 is just right.

Kelly6 · Answer

no, i supported age 16

Wise4myage · Answer

It should be 18 in every country.

Fuentes · Answer

It should always be 18

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