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Constrained choices: Exploring the complexities of adolescent girls’ voice and agency in child marriage decisions in Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Nicola Jones

    (GAGE/ Overseas Development Institute, London, United Kingdom)

  • Elizabeth Presler-Marshall

    (Independent Researcher)

  • Guday Kassahun

    (Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

  • Meti Kebede Hateu

    (GAGE Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Abstract

Ethiopia has recently seen a remarkable fall in the proportion of girls who marry in early adolescence, reflecting the country’s lauded efforts to tackle child marriage. However, aggregate national figures mask a more complex reality. This article explores this complexity, drawing on qualitative data with adolescent girls and boys, their caregivers, service providers and community leaders, from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) longitudinal study baseline. Our findings highlight the complex interplay between cultural norms, economic factors, individual voice and agency, and collective support thereof, on the part of leaders and service providers, from grassroots to national levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Jones & Elizabeth Presler-Marshall & Guday Kassahun & Meti Kebede Hateu, 2020. "Constrained choices: Exploring the complexities of adolescent girls’ voice and agency in child marriage decisions in Ethiopia," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 20(4), pages 296-311, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:prodev:v:20:y:2020:i:4:p:296-311
    DOI: 10.1177/1464993420958215
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sarah Baird & Laura Camfield & Anita Ghimire & Bassam Abu Hamad & Nicola Jones & Kate Pincock & Tassew Woldehanna, 2021. "Intersectionality as a Framework for Understanding Adolescent Vulnerabilities in Low and Middle Income Countries: Expanding Our Commitment to Leave No One Behind," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(5), pages 1143-1162, October.
    2. Esther Miedema & Winny Koster & Nicky Pouw, 2020. "Taking choice seriously: Emic understandings of decision-making about child marriage," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 20(4), pages 261-269, October.

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