Analysing Female Nuptiality Pattern at Micro Level: A Case of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The study of female age at marriage in any population is of immense importance due to its strong association with social, economic and demographic change in the population. In India marriages are not only universal but take place at early ages (Nirupama 1981, Pandey 1984, Singh 1986). This is basically a resent of the combination of belief and practices like, parents should marry off their daughters once they reach menarche and also they settle for more dowry if a girl is married late and so on. Because traditional marriage systems are usually organised to protect women's sexuality and maximize their reproductive value, parental and social interest are best served by marrying daughters close to puberty. Additionally, in the absence of alternative opportunities such as schooling and employment, marriage may be the only socially legitimate option for an adult
woman (Caldwell, 1982; McDonald, 1985). Though there are legislation's to check the practice of early marriages in India, a lot of marriages do take place below the marriageable ages (Pathak 1980). Thus, the problem of early age at marriage in India is very complex in nature.