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Title Being dragged into adulthood? Young people's agency concerning sex, relationships and marriage in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia
Full text https://library.wur.nl/WebQuery/wurpubs/580389
Date 2021
Author(s) Kok, Maryse C.; Eldik, Zoe, van; Kakal, Tasneem; Munthali, Alister; Menon, Anitha; Pires, Paulo; Baatsen, Pam; Kwaak, Anke, van der
Abstract This study aimed to explore how young people exercise agency in rural Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia in relation to sex, relationships and marriage, to inform local programmes aiming to prevent teenage pregnancy and child marriage. In each country, focus group discussions with young people and parents, in-depth interviews with young people and a variety of other participants, and a household survey with young people (15-24 years) were conducted. We found that (child) marriage was often a response to teenage pregnancy, which was highly prevalent in all study areas. Young people's aspirations to enter adulthood were influenced by their life circumstances. Initiation ceremonies symbolised the transition to adulthood and gave social endorsement to young people to start engaging in (often unprotected) sexual activity. Given the uncertain socio-economic context, resource constraints led families to marry off their daughters; or girls themselves to marry early to relieve the burden on their families, but also to get pregnant as a 'next step' towards adulthood. Transactional sex was common. These intersecting cultural, social and economic contextual factors constrained young women's agency, more as compared to young men. However, young women did manoeuvre within contextual constraints to exercise a degree of agency.
Subject(s) Agency; marriage; sexual relationships; Sub-Saharan Africa; young people
Language en
Relation https://edepot.wur.nl/543522
Type of publication Article/Letter to editor
Format text/html
Source Culture, Health & Sexuality (2021); ISSN: 1369-1058
Rights Wageningen University & Research
Identifier 10.1080/13691058.2021.1881618
Repository Wageningen - University of Wageningen
Added to C-A: 2021-03-17;11:33:37