‘Adopted’ Marriage: A Case of Child Marriage, its Practice and Status in North Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in some selected districts of North Gondar (Ethiopia) zeroing in on Early marriage. It is a folkloric study and qualitative in terms of the approach it used. The study used cultural relativism and contextual approach to better develop a grounded analysis of child marriage positing it in the cultural contexts of the people of the selected districts. Data were collected using observation, in-depth interview and focus group discussion. The study participants mainly were married couples of adopted marriage, community elders, and religious leaders. Having interpreted the data collected qualitatively and buttressed it using cultural relativism and contextual analysis; the study found adopted marriage is the type of early marriage children are usually exposed in rural areas of the study districts. Moreover, it found that adopted marriage is practiced as per the choice and wish of parents, not children’s. Though in recent times these types of early marriage and in deed early marriage altogether are officially banned by the government, the people of the study area have not stopped practicing early marriage. They do this convinced that it will ensure the future economic wellbeing of children, widen the social and family ties of marrying families, longevity of married life, and decreased divorce.