Child marriage is a global problem that affects all regions of the world. Taken from their homes and families, girls under the age of eighteen are married off against their own will, affecting not only the girls (mentally and physically) but the country as a whole. The organization Too Young to Wed states: “…by marrying them off at such a young age, they put girls at risk and perpetuate the cycle of powerlessness and poverty. » Child marriages have occurred throughout history and are still prevalent today due to societal tolerance. And the number of girls forced into marriage has increased and will continue to increase if society remains tolerant of this sensitive issue. Over time, society perceives men as superior, which influences their cultural aspect in life. Society has instilled male dominance in the minds of young children, imposing roles on each gender. Girls are slaves to society, submitting to both men and their masters. And child brides are a perfect way to show patriarchal society (Ludden). The girl would be married off to take care of her own family, thereby crippling them in accessing education and obtaining employment. Girls were not supposed to work (Radu). It is also said that the purpose of marrying girls young was to maintain their attractiveness. Roberta Radu states: “Virginity is an 'asset' that families usually exchange for substantial sums of money, which is why marriage is arranged as early as possible in order to preserve the 'desirability' of the girl. Among all these incentives, money was the most important factor. Parents arranged their daughter's marriage due to poverty. The bride's family received a dowry, essentially trading the girls for money. Once again, girls were a burden and parents used child marriage as a relief... middle of paper... for a bright future. Yes, change is difficult, but if we start changing the outlook of societies and continue to contribute to change little by little, we can create a world where women are just as equal as men. org. United Nations Population Fund. Internet. February 12, 2014.Ludden, Jennifer. “Can child marriages be stopped? npr.com. November 25, 2013. the web. February 10, 2014Radu, Roberta. “The child brides of Romania”. The Guardian.com. June 29, 2011. the web. January 30, 2014Ramdani, Nabila. ““After the wedding, fear set in”: the story of a young Yemeni bride. » The Guardian. com.September 30, 2013. Web. January 28, 2014. Sagade, Jaya. Child marriage in India: socio-legal dimensions and human rights. Oxford University Press: 2005 edition. Print.