Discouraging Illegal Marriage Discouraging Illegal Marriage in Rural Chinain Rural China

Selia Wang Selia Wang 王敏王敏

Major: English TranslationMajor: English Translation

MemberMember,, World Academy for the Future of W World Academy for the Future of Womenomen

Have you ever had a feeling that Have you ever had a feeling that something isn’t right, but you keep moving something isn’t right, but you keep moving

past it without a second thought?past it without a second thought?

Let me tell you a story firstLet me tell you a story first……

I grew up in a rural village.I grew up in a rural village.

.

People here are kind, nice, hospitable aPeople here are kind, nice, hospitable and honest.nd honest.

I appreciate everything I have experienced in my chI appreciate everything I have experienced in my childhood, which makes me who I am today.ildhood, which makes me who I am today.

.

I I amam very lucky to become the only girl in my big f very lucky to become the only girl in my big family to enter college, whiamily to enter college, whichch placesplaces a greata great finan finan

cial burden cial burden on my familyon my family..

But But my family and my family and I believe it is worth itI believe it is worth it.. EEducation is the ducation is the onlyonly way out of poverty way out of poverty..

.

But for others who didn't But for others who didn't go to go to collegecollege, they are living a completely , they are living a completely

different life.different life.

My sisterMy sister got married at the age of 18 and now got married at the age of 18 and now works works at a factory in a remote city which is very at a factory in a remote city which is very far away from her cute childrenfar away from her cute children……

.

My brother quit school My brother quit school in in fourth grade and married at the age of 1fourth grade and married at the age of 199.. NNow he has to work hard at ow he has to work hard at aa construction site to support his f construction site to support his familyamily.. This hard jobThis hard job makes him work about 12 hours a day for a pa makes him work about 12 hours a day for a payment of 80 yuan.yment of 80 yuan.

My best friend got married at the age of 18 and My best friend got married at the age of 18 and his wife was 17 when they got married.his wife was 17 when they got married.

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Since then, his wife Since then, his wife spends all day spends all day carcaring for ing for the family, dothe family, doing housework. Her only birthday wish is to hang out with ing housework. Her only birthday wish is to hang out with a friend in town without the baby.a friend in town without the baby.

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Life should have been going well Life should have been going well for herfor her, but it i, but it is always full of surprises. s always full of surprises.

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My friend My friend soonsoon started dating another started dating another woman and wanted to divorce woman and wanted to divorce

his 19-year-old wife. his 19-year-old wife.

SoSo,, what would what would youyou do do if you were the wifeif you were the wife??

The legal marriage age in CThe legal marriage age in China for men is 22, hina for men is 22, but but for wfor women omen it it is 20.is 20.

My friend, my sister and my brother were My friend, my sister and my brother were all married without a marriage certificate. all married without a marriage certificate. Their marriages are not protected by law, Their marriages are not protected by law,

so they are so they are illegal marriagesillegal marriages..

In this case, my friendIn this case, my friend, who is now , who is now 20,20, c canan leave his wife and marry an leave his wife and marry another woman other woman ifif he wants. he wants.

But what about this kind woman But what about this kind woman and her cute son? and her cute son?

.

We could say it is unfair for the woWe could say it is unfair for the woman, but it is just what it is.man, but it is just what it is.

SShe is just one of many women in the vilhe is just one of many women in the villlage who aage who are suffering or have suffered this kind of re suffering or have suffered this kind of heartbreakheartbreak.. There are lots of illegal marriages in the village. There are lots of illegal marriages in the village.

It It wwould be fine if the husband ould be fine if the husband wouldwould honor honor his cohis commitment, but once he changes his mind, the wife mmitment, but once he changes his mind, the wife

ccanan do nothing to stop that or protect herself do nothing to stop that or protect herself..

All my life, All my life, I have witnessed the pain that women I have witnessed the pain that women

who arewho are my age have suffered. my age have suffered.

Do you know some stories about the ilDo you know some stories about the illegal marriages? legal marriages?

WhatWhat do do youyou think about th think about this social is social issueissue??

Do you think there are any other proDo you think there are any other problems with illegal marriages?blems with illegal marriages?

What do you think causescauses illegal marriages?

Quitting school without graduatingQuitting school without graduating

Following custom in the villageFollowing custom in the village

Nothing better to do…Nothing better to do…

EEveryone does veryone does iit so nobody t so nobody seessees anyth anything wrong withing wrong with

anan illegal marriage illegal marriage.. It’s tradition!It’s tradition!

Nothing changesNothing changes if if nono one is willing one is willing to to makemake changes.changes.

As global leaders, As global leaders, what cwhat canan we do to help women we do to help women

who who suffer suffer from from illegal marriages?illegal marriages?

The mostThe most important step is to enc important step is to encourage the young to continue schoourage the young to continue scho

ol iol innstead of quistead of quittting.ting.

Another point is to educate their pareAnother point is to educate their parents, especially the parents of the girls nts, especially the parents of the girls

and make them aware of how harmfuand make them aware of how harmful it would be for their daughters to get l it would be for their daughters to get

married too early.married too early.

As the first step of taking action, I made some posters aAs the first step of taking action, I made some posters about the harm of illegal marriages and posted them in bout the harm of illegal marriages and posted them in my village my village oon April 3 and received a very positive respon April 3 and received a very positive response.nse.

.

This is only a start...This is only a start...

I can I can and I and I willwill keep going keep going with this messagewith this message, but I nee, but I nee

d your help!d your help!

I am requesting the Sias Law Program to help I am requesting the Sias Law Program to help me develop fliers, posters and informational brome develop fliers, posters and informational brochures to take to the schools in the villages to inchures to take to the schools in the villages to inform students about early marriage and the heaform students about early marriage and the heartbreak it causes.rtbreak it causes. I will seek the support and endorsement of I will seek the support and endorsement of women’s groups around the world.women’s groups around the world.

I need advice from experts I need advice from experts around the world on how to around the world on how to address this social problem.address this social problem.

• I need to raise $5000 $5000 to develop the brobrochureschures. I need a laptoplaptop to access more

information thought the Internet to move on this project .

I need to cover travel andtravel and administration administration

expensesexpenses.

Any efforts we make will change others’ lives. Will you please help me change Will you please help me change the future for women?the future for women?

Selia Wang Selia Wang

Email: sweetselia@yahoo.cnEmail: sweetselia@yahoo.cn

PhonePhone ：： 86159362102318615936210231

SkypeSkype ： ： sweetseliasweetselia