Socioeconomic and Familial Status of Women Associated with Age at First Marriage in Three Islamic Societies
Author(s)
Heaton, Tim B.
Abstract
Low socioeconomic status of women is often linked to their relegation to familial roles. This tendency is particularly evident, in, but certainly not limited to Islamic societies. A combination of early – often arranged – marriage, high fertility, gender segregation, seclusion of women, belief that wives should obey their husbands, and low female labor force participation has created a largely domestic and subordinate role for women. Early marriage is one of the key events linking low socioeconomic status and high involvement in familial responsibilities. Because marriage is often the first formal event marking women’s initiation into adult familial roles, age at marriage plays a determining role in the subsequent life course of women. This paper examines trends in age at marriage in three Islamic countries and correlates age at marriage with other familial and socioeconomic status characteristics of women.
