Factors shaping trajectories to child and early marriage: Evidence from Young Lives in India

This mixed-method paper analyses longitudinal data related to the Older Cohort of girls in the Young Lives study in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to determine what factors shape the trajectories of girls aged 19 years into higher education or early marriage. Drawing upon individual-, household- and community-related data, the paper highlights that a multitude of factors, including location of residence, caste, socio-economic status, educational level and aspirations, parental education and social norms intersect to direct the trajectory of girls into child and early marriage or continued education. The paper presents case studies of girls who continued their education after marriage and girls from economically and socially disadvantaged homes who won scholarships to achieve their dreams to highlight how girls are capable of achieving their aspirations if provided with an enabling family and policy environment. This includes access to secondary and higher education, a school education that builds young people’s agency and aspirations, social protection for the poorest rural households to enable them to not withdraw young girls into paid work at an early age, and, most importantly, government-initiated programmes to challenge social and cultural norms such as the dowry system and the tendency to view girls as paraya dhan (belonging to someone else). Engaging with men and boys to challenge patriarchal norms and the discrimination faced by young girls is crucial if we are to change the marriage expectations of families and larger communities