Counterargument #1: lack of experience
The arguments against young marriages are quite convincing. For the most part, these arguments point at the current social flaws and the need to address them. One the arguments voiced most often is that young people have little to no experience in building relationships (Dahl, 2010).
Indeed, young people have little to no experience in creating a family. It is important to stress that creating a family means handling not only personal interactions, but also economic and financial issues, as well as share household responsibilities. Older people have already encountered problems of the kind and, therefore, know how to solve them, whereas younger people, presumably, do not.
Rebuttal: age-related prejudices
However, being old does not being mature, and the ability to solve complex marital issues does not appear out of nowhere once one reaches a particular age. Instead, such experience is acquired in the course of social interactions, which young people are engaged into to a greater degree than the ones that are older.
Researches have shown that younger people are more flexible in their approach towards sharing responsibilities and accepting new roles (Report on causes and consequences of early marriage in Amhara region, 2006) and can adapt towards the new environment much faster than older people.
Counterargument #2: Education and Career
Another argument that addresses the significance of career is also legitimate (Bayisenge, n. d.). Indeed, in the present-day world, being educated and having good career opportunities means being able to provide for the family.
Therefore, it is reasonable to suggest that people should first consider their education issues, evaluate their employment chances, consider possible career opportunities, and only then start relationships. Since the process of professional growth takes much time, for most business people, marriage is possible only when they reach the age of thirty (Bayisenge, n. d.).
Rebuttal: numerous opportunities of the XXI century
Nevertheless, the given statement is easily proved wrong by considering the opportunities that present-day education and employment spheres have to offer, particularly the opportunities for distanced studying and employment, as well as part-time employment (Goldin & Katz, 2002). It would be wrong to claim that the given ideas should not be taken into account when considering an early marriage – quite on the contrary, analyzing the given issues and searching for possible avenues to address them may save one’s marriage and prevent a number of conflicts. However, holding these arguments as the ultimate proof for the pointlessness of young marriage is definitely absurd.
Counterargument #3: dependency on parents and their opinion
Finally, the fact that young people are often dependable on their parents should also be considered. True, for the most part, young people consider their parents’ opinion before making their own choices. In addition, a number of young adults live with their parents before getting married.
Rebuttal: turning weakness into strength
Nonetheless, such dependency manifests itself only as long as children live with their parents; once the newlyweds create their own families, they tend to reconsider their goals and values, accepting new responsibilities eagerly. The given process is a part of growing up. In addition, being dependable does not mean being weak, and the aptitude to consult parents may be used for improving the family relationships. For instance, parents’ experience may help the couple solve conflicts (Musick, 2010).
Reference List
Amato, P. R. (2003). People’s reason for divorcing: Gender, social class, the life course, and adjustment. Journal of Family Issues, 24(5), pp. 602–626.
Bayisenge, J. (n. d.). Early marriage as a barrier to girl’s education: A developmental challenge in Africa. Web.
Dahl, G. B. (2010). Early teen marriage and future poverty. Demography, 47(70), pp. 689–718.
Goldin, C. & Katz, L. F. (2002). The power of the pill: Oral contraceptives and women’s career and marriage decisions. Journal of Political Economy, 110(4), pp. 730–770.
Musick, K. (2010). Are both parents always better than one? Parental conflict and young adult well-being (forthcoming in social science research). Web.
Report on causes and consequences of early marriage in Amhara region (2006). Retrieved from http://www2.pathfinder.org/site/DocServer/PIE_final_report_early_marriage_11-30-06__to_printer__2_.pdf?docID=8141