Gender Bias in Child Marriage in Madura

Netty Dyah Kurniasari

, Emy Susanti

and Yuyun Wahyu Izzati

University Trunojoyo Madura, Student of Department Sosial Sciences, Politics and Social Sciences Faculty,

University of Airlangga Surabaya, Indonesia

Department Social Science, Politics and Social Sciences Faculty, University of Airlangga Surabaya, Indonesia

Keywords: Gender Bias, Child Marriage, Madura.

Abstract: Based on data, in Indonesia girls are the most vulnerable victims. Another study found that firstly, girls from

rural areas experienced double vulnerability to be married compared to urban children. Secondly, early

marriage often occurs in poor areas. Third, girls who drop out or do not continue school are also more

vulnerable than girls who are in school The purpose of this study is to find out what causes child marriage in

Madura. The research subjects are couples who marry young, parents who marry young. Research location in

Madura. The results of the study show that adolescents do premature marriages for several reasons: Firstly,

their adherence to marriage at a young age if it is requested by parents. Secondly, Adolescents agree with the

norm ‘Adolescents who already have children boast parents’ (early marriage). The reason for parents marrying

their children at an early age is for several reasons. Firstly because of customs. Secondly because it has been

bound by an agreement with prospective (besan).Thirdly, to avoid married by accident. Fourth, want to

immediately have grandchildren.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to reveal the construction

of early marriage in Madura. In addition, it is also to

explore the understanding of early marriages about

reproductive health. Based on data, in Indonesia girls

are the most vulnerable victims. Another study found

that firstly, girls from rural areas experienced double

vulnerability to be married compared to urban

children. Secondly, early marriage often occurs in

poor areas. Third, girls who drop out or do not

continue school are also more vulnerable than girls

who are in school (Candraningrum, 2016). The 2012

Susenas data shows that girls who are married at 10-

15 years of age are 11.13 percent, and those who are

married between the ages of 10-15 years as much as

32.10% (Candraningrum, 2016).

LITERATUR REVIEW

Previous studies showed that women involved in

child marriages came from poor families (Susanti,

2018). Parents marry off their daughters to reduce the

family's economic burden (Susanti, 2018) Parents

encourage (force) girls to marry.The Impact of Child

Marriage in Indonesia.Journal of Youth Studies Vol

3 No 1 May 2014.The results showed that child

marriage occurs due to the lack of comprehensive

reproductive and sexual health education (PKRS)

since childhood.( Djamilah, Reni Kartikawati, 2014).

Marriage of Minors (A Study of Islamic Law

Perspectives). Al-Ihkam Journal Vol 6 No 2

December 2011. The results showed that there was

indeed a difference between State law and Islamic

law. (Mohammad (2011). Marriage of Minors and Its

Legal Consequences.Journal of Lex et Societatis Vol

II/No. 4/May/2014.

The results showed that customary law knows no

adult age limit. Islamic law does not specifically

mention age restrictions ( Sherlin Darondos (2014).

METHODS

The design of this study was descriptive qualitative.

Data collection are in-depth interview and

observation. Location of the study in Bangkalan and

Sampang Madura regencies whose child marriage

rates were highest. The population in this location are

women and her husban, their parents.Selection

techniques is purposive sampling.

Kurniasari, N., Susanti, E. and Izzati, Y.

Gender Bias in Child Marriage in Madura.

DOI: 10.5220/0011865500003582

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Seminar and Call for Paper (ISCP) UTA â

Z45 Jakarta (ISCP UTA’45 Jakarta 2022), pages 47-50

ISBN: 978-989-758-654-5; ISSN: 2828-853X

 2023 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. Under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

The object of this research is:

a) children married parents of children who are

married

b) Officials, or community leaders (ulama)

In this study the validity or stabilization and

correctness of information is achieved by using two

triangulation techniques namely source triangulation

and method triangulation. Source triangulation is

done in two ways. The first method is done by

comparing data obtained from children who are

married to children, parents of children in different

situations. The second method is done by comparing

the information about the children who are married,

parents of children, leaders and community leaders

with different positions (status). Triangulation of the

method is done by comparing the results of structured

and in-depth interviews, FGDs and comparing with

documents and results of recording.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The informants in this study were married women at

an early age, female husbands, married parents and

community leaders. The first informant named

Muhammad Deny Faturokhman (21 years) addresses

Telang Timur Village and works as a photocopy

shopkeeper. He was betrothed when he was 18 years

old and married when he was 20 years old. The last

education was Deni High School (SMA). Deni's wife

named Siti Qomariah (20 years), Siti's last education

was only junior high school (SMP). Deni is the

second of three children, married because he was

forced by his parents. According to him, he was very

sad because he was forced to marry. He was

powerless to deny his parents' orders. At first Deni

denied the wishes of his parents to get married, but

parents still forced him. He wanted to work first to

boast of his parents.

During the wedding Deni claimed to experience

mental stress that made him down. The marriage was

important (not easy). If there are problems in his

family, he often asks for help from his parents.

Getting married at a young age was very hard for

Deni, but he considered it as a fate that must be faced

with courage, patience and sincerity.

The next informant was Mr. Abdul Tholib (Deni's

father). The reason behind marrying off his child was

because he was bound by an agreement with a

prospective besan (Siti's father). Deni's father and

Siti's father are still close relatives. They have

promised to marry their children at a young age. In

connection with government policy regarding the

minimum age limit for marriage, Abdul Tholib

actually knew. However, due to tradition (reasonable)

and an agreement with Mr Toha (besan), he still

married his child at a young age. In addition to the

agreement with the prospective besan, Pak Abdul

Tholib's motive was to marry his child at a young age

because he wanted to have a grandson.

Regarding the negative consequences of early

marriage, according to Mr. Tholib, he did not know

the impact of early marriage on women's reproductive

health. He has socialized to his son about the

importance of marriage as long as his son is 17 years

old. The way that Pak Tolib uses is to say that

marriage is something that is given by God to us and

married is an abundant fortune. Another informant in

this study was Fatimatus Zahroh, 20 years old.

Fatimatus Zahroh is an informant who got married

bay accident (MBA). Shee is now married, runs 1

year and does not have a marriage certificate

(Marriage Siri). The informant currently does not

have children.

Informants have experienced pressure from the

family environment that is like not being allowed to

leave the house.Informant was not independent to

express or convey a wish because did not get support

from parents. The parents of the informants also

wanted informants to marry at a young age because.

Her parents did not know the impact of the young

marriage. The informant's parents wanted him to have

children at a young age. The informant did not know

the consequences of early marriage or young

marriage for reasons already common in her

environment.

The informant did not understand the ideal age of

marriage. The informant said that getting married at

the age of 20 is a lot happening to adolescents in the

community, due to fear of not being sold out and

informants not knowing what information is related

to reproductive health in adolescents especially for

themselves. Fatimah's parents wanted her to marry at

a young age because she did not know the impact of

the early marriage. The informant's parents wanted

her to have children at a young age. The informant did

not know the consequences of early marriage or

young marriage. Early married is already common in

her environment. The informant did not understand

the ideal age of marriage for women that marrying

less than 20 years was a danger. The informant told

me that getting married at the age of 20 is a lot

happening to teenagers in the community.

Furthermore, the informant did not know where to get

information about the issue of reproductive health in

adolescents especially for herself.

According to Fatimah, she knows the function of

reproductive organs from television. Fatimah got

ISCP UTA’45 Jakarta 2022 - International Seminar and Call for Paper Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Jakarta

pornographic images from electronic media such as

the internet, Facebook, YouTube and others. Related

to knowledge of sexual behavior , she know from

television. The informant did not understand the ideal

age of a woman to get married. the surrounding

environment there are many who are less than 19

years old at the time of marriage. The villagers

assume that getting married sooner is getting better,

even though they haven't graduated. Teenagers who

are not married at the age of 19 will be a public scorn.

Teenagers who already have children can boast of

their parents because they can provide new offspring

to their families.

4.1 Access of Reproductive Health

Information

Associated with access to reproductive health

information, informants know the function of

reproductive organs from television. Informants

access pornographic images from electronic media

such as the internet, facebook, youtube and others.

The knowledge of sexual behavior that is known to

informants safely from television. In terms of

knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases, such as

HIV / AIDs, informants obtained through television.

4.2 Knowledge of Reproductive Health

The informant did not understand the ideal age of a

woman to get married, that if a woman is truly ready

to marry at least 21 years of age, because in the

surrounding environment there are many who are less

than 19 years old at the time of marriage. Informants

are aware that marriage must need readiness

physically, mentally and economically. The

informant knew that the sign of puberty for young

women was menstruation and for men was a wet

dream. Moreover, informant also knew that women

who had menstruation were very at risk of getting

pregnant if they had sexual relations with the opposite

sex.

The informant knew that sexual relations even if

only one time could make pregnancy possible.

Furthermore, informants knew women who were

pregnant and giving birth at less than 15 years of age

had a dangerous risk. The informant also knew that

women who were mature enough to be mothers, it

was over 20 years old.Informants also experienced

and confirmed that being pregnant in adolescence

could cause difficulties such as traffic jams during

childbirth.

In understanding related to transmission of

venereal diseases such as HIV / AIDs, informants

have understood enough, such as informants stating

that HIV / AIDS is contagious when kissing patients

because only those who are injured.

Moreover, the informant also confirmed that

condom was safe because it could prevent infectious

diseases transmitted through sexual intercourse. The

informant also confirmed that the use of

contraception may be carried out by unmarried

teenagers because the partner is not pregnant. The

informants also did not know that there was

availability of male contraceptives to delay or prevent

pregnancy.

The next informan was Sela Vina, she was a

female, 20 years old. Sela Vina is an informant who

was divorced under the age of 20 years. She now has

a widow status, from her marriage running 1 year and

not having a marriage certificate (Marriage

Siri).Informan was not free to express or convey her

wishes. Informan stated that getting married at the age

of 20 is a lot happening to adolescents in the

community. Informan knowing to get information

which is related to reproductive health in adolescents

especially for themselves.According informan, she

know the function of reproductive organs from

television. She access pornographic images from

electronic media such as the internet, facebook,

youtube and others, as well as knowledge about

sexual behavior.According informan, married at a

young age of less than 20 years which is the choice of

the informant herself. Sexual intercourse outside

marriage is a shameful act. According informan,

pregnancy in adolescence is more healthy for

prospective babies. Moreover, pregnancy checks do

not have to be done if pregnant women are healthy.

Furthermore,have children with a number of very

proud.

The next informant is Mohammad Lukman. He

was a male, 21 years old. Mohammad Lukman is an

informan who is a teenager who consumes drugs.

Informan now has the status of a husband, from his

marriage running 1 year. He has a marriage certificate

(legal marriage). Current informant do not have

children.Informants in this case also consume

cigarettes and liquor as well as using illegal drugs.In

terms of economy, informants have experienced

economic pressures as well and informan have been

under pressure from their family / social community.

Informants can freely express their wishes. Talk

about married. Informants' parents wanted informants

to marry at a young age. Parents also want children

from informants at a young age. Informant states that

marriage under the age of 20 commonly occurs in

teenagers in the surrounding community. Informants

know the function of reproductive organs from

Gender Bias in Child Marriage in Madura

television. Informants use social media such as the

internet, Facebook, YouTube to access pornographic

content.

Informants get information about knowledge of

sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV / AIDs

informants from television. In the case of early

marriage or adolescence, informants are obtained

from the television. Married at a young age of less

than 20 years, which became the choice of the

informant himself. Outside sexual relations is a

shameful act according to the informant. However,

according informan, pregnancy in adolescence is

more healthy for prospective babies.Pregnancy

checks should not be done if the pregnant woman is

healthy. Furthermore, having children with large

numbers is very proud of family.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study show that adolescents do

premature marriages for several reasons: Firstly, their

adherence to marriage at a young age if it is requested

by parents. Secondly, Adolescents agree with the

norm ‘Adolescents who already have children boast

parents’ (early marriage). The reason for parents

marrying their children at an early age is for several

reasons. Firstly because of customs. Secondly

because it has been bound by an agreement with

prospective (besan).Thirdly, to avoid married by

accident. Fourth, want to immediately have

grandchildren. The limitations of this study are that

they have not dug deeply into the families of

teenagers who experience early marriage.

Suggestions for further research are exploring the

impact of early marriage on the adolescent's family.

REFERENCES

Candraningrum Dewi dkk, 2016, Takut akan Zina,

Pendidikan Rendah, dan Kemiskinan :Status Anak

Perempuan dalam Pernikahan Anak di Sukabumi Jawa

Barat. Jurnal Perempuan, Vol 21 No 1 Februari 2016.

Djamilah, Reni Kartikawati (2014), Dampak Perkawinan

Anak di Indonesia. Jurnal Studi Pemuda Vol 3 No 1 Mei

2014.

Mohammad (2011), Perkawinan Anak di Bawah Umur

(Sebuah Kajian Perspektif Hukum Islam).Jurnal Al-

Ihkam Vol 6 No 2 Desember 2011.

Sherlin Darondos (2014), Perkawinan Anak di Bawah

Umur dan Akibat Hukumnya.Jurnal Lex et Societatis

Vol II/No. 4/Mei/2014.

Survei Sosial Ekonomi Nasional 2014

Susanti, Emy (2018), Unequal Gender Relations in The

Practices Of Girls Marriage in Poor Family at East

Java Province. Jurnal Masyarakat, Kebudayaan dan

Politik Vol 31 Isuue 4, 2018.page 440-450.

Interviews with Deny Faturokhman (Gili Timur

Bangkalan)

Interviews with Abdul Tholib (Bangkalan)

Interviews with Fatimatus Zahroh (Sampang)

Interviews with Fatimatus Zahroh`s parents (Sampang)

Interviews with Mohammad Lukman

Interviews with Sela Vina

ISCP UTA’45 Jakarta 2022 - International Seminar and Call for Paper Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Jakarta