Marriage and family experiences of individuals married at an early age: The case of Çubuk

This thesis aims to interpret the marriage and family experiences of individuals who married at an early age through the concepts of "child bride" and "child groom." Early marriage is a starting point for many problems on both individual and societal levels. Norms, values, and expectations, as dynamic elements of society, significantly contribute to the persistence of early-age marriage. This study aims to identify the factors leading to early- age marriages, the marriage process itself, and its consequences. It also seeks to explore how these experiences differ based on gender, thereby contributing to the academic literature. A qualitative research method was adopted for this study. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire with 9 female and 8 male participants. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis within a phenomenological framework. The findings indicate that the primary motivations behind marriage decisions and processes for both girls and boys are shaped by family- and society-driven beliefs and obligations. However, patriarchal ideologies and gender-based discrimination play a significant role in the differing ways in which early marriages are encouraged for boys and girls. For girls, the factors that complicate early marriage experiences are mainly emotional abuse, imposed gender roles, and societal expectations regarding marriage. For boys, these experiences are shaped by the responsibilities imposed through economic obligations under patriarchal norms. Despite these gender-specific differences, the marriage experiences of both girls and boys are individually and socially challenging and exhausting. Keywords: Child bride, child groom, family, marriage