ABSTRACT
This study focuses on how the practices of early girl marriage encourage the process of marginalisation of women. Using a sociological analysis with a gender perspective, this study also aims to examine how the practices of early girl marriage harm the lives of young women and their children. This study was conducted in two regions of East Java Province, Indonesia, with different cultural backgrounds, namely Bangkalan Regency with its Maduranese culture and Blitar Regency with its Javanese culture. The subjects included in this study were young wives, their husbands, parents, parents-in-law, neighbours and local community leaders. Data were collected using a questionnaire administered to 100 respondents and an in-depth interview with 20 informants. The results from this study reveal the role of patriarchal hegemonic culture in the lives of poor communities who still practice early marriage. Women are marginalised for several reasons as follows: a) they are kept in subordinate positions in their families and communities; b) they live in poor conditions; c) they have no protection for their reproductive health. This paper argues that practices of early girl marriage are not a religious but a gender issue.
