×

Success Of Raising Age To Legally Marry Is All In The Numbers

Roughly 3,800 children were married in New York state between 2000 and 2010.

That’s 3,800 children too many.

According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office, research shows young women who marry before 19 are 50 percent more likely than their unmarried peers to drop out of high school, and four times less likely to graduate from college. Women who wed before 18 are also at increased risk of developing mental and physical health disorders, including facing a 23 percent higher risk of heart attack, diabetes, cancer and stroke. Girls who marry young are 31 percent more likely to live in poverty when they are older and are three times more likely to be beaten by their spouses than women who wed at 21 or older. The numbers shouldn’t be surprising — they are what happens when children marry before they can legally drive, smoke or drink.

Cuomo signed legislation recently raising the age of consent to marry from 14 years old to 18 years old and amends the process to require parental and judicial consent for marriage of those between 17 years old and 18 years old. It is a good thing that common sense prevailed in the state Legislature and the governor’s office so that raising the age for a child to be married didn’t slip through the cracks during the most recent legislative session.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today