Between Choice and Obligation: An Exploratory Assessment of Forced Marriage Problems and Policies among Migrants in the United States

Abstract

Recently, in the United States (US) there has been increasing interest in and advocacy for developing research and policies that identify and address what has, in the European context, been called child and forced marriage, in which migrant parents, typically from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) impose marital choices on their Western-raised children, through coercion, psychological pressure, or the threat of violence. Despite widespread international concern, there remains little research-based empirical knowledge about the problem in the United States. Drawing on interviews with 100 City University of New York students from MENASA families, this study documents significant intergenerational conflict over honour, sexuality, and marital choice and suggests a high likelihood that coercive marital situations are present in the US. However, the different socio-political environment encountered by migrant families in the US may not effectively accommodate European style anti-forced marriage policy constructions and criminal justice responses.

"So, I Stayed:" Narratives of Agency from Punjabi-Canadian Women in Forced Marriages

“…Forced marriage is commonly and broadly understood as when one (or both) parties face physical, emotional, psychological, or systemic pressures from familial or community actors to marry thus violating the fundamental right to consent to marriage (Gangoli & McCarry, 2008;Marcus et al, 2019;Home Office, 2000;Gill & Sundari, 2011;Anis et al, 2013). The pressure to solemnise derives from an array of coinciding reasons including a person's socio-economic status, religious or cultural beliefs, preservation of heritage and honour, preventing unsuitable relationships (i.e., intercultural or homosexual), preventing substance abuse, and/or to acquire immigration status (Gangoli & McCarry, 2008;Marcus et al, 2019;Home Office, 2000;Gill & Sundari, 2011;Anis et al, 2013). There are a handful of qualitative studies that examine the causes of forced marriage, the experiences of women exiting, and the efficacy of existing support systems (Amara et al, 2013, Anis et al, 2013Chantler & McCarry, 2020;Bendriss, 2008;Husaini & Bhardwaj, 2010;Gordon, 2017).…”

“…Forced marriage and arranged marriage are "mistakenly conflated" as the terms are usually used interchangeably (Anis et al, 2013, p.4). Like forced marriage, arranged marriages are viewed as a strategic decision where families examine the socio-economic status of their child's potential partner to ensure an effective, long-term match (Khandelwal, 2009;Marcus et al, 2019). However, scholarship generally concurs that an arranged marriage occurs when "the family of both spouses take the lead in arranging the marriage" but the "choice on whether to accept the arrangement remains with the individual" (Marcus, 2019, p.22;Home Office, 2000, p.6;Anitha & Gill, 2009, p.166;Evans, 2017, p.16).…”

“…However, scholarship generally concurs that an arranged marriage occurs when "the family of both spouses take the lead in arranging the marriage" but the "choice on whether to accept the arrangement remains with the individual" (Marcus, 2019, p.22;Home Office, 2000, p.6;Anitha & Gill, 2009, p.166;Evans, 2017, p.16). An arranged marriage may become forced when it veers from being consensual to coercive; the difference between the two being the thin line of consent (Marcus, 2019;Home Office, 2000;Anitha & Gill, 2009;Evans, 2017).…”

“…Forced marriage is commonly mislabeled as a form of violence endemic to or a product of ethnic communities, religions, and cultures; a misconception that fuels prejudice, ethnocentrisms, and xenophobia (Marcus et al, 2019;Home Office, 2000;Anitha & Gill, 2011;Anis et al, 2013).…”

“…Additionally, honour, a concept commonly associated with racialized communities, is frequently cited as the primary driver of forced marriage (Marcus et al, 2019;Home Office, 2000;Husaini & Bhardwaj, 2008;Chantler & McCarry, 2020;Anis et al, 2013) Honour or Izzat is most often defined as "a virtue or character trait associated with integrity, good moral character and altruism" that maintains a positive reputation of an individual and their social groups (Gill, 2014, p.1). To maintain honor, one is expected to follow certain rules that constitute the code of honour for a specific group (Gill, 2014, p.1).…”