The Disturbing Tradition of Child Brides in Mexico
A Shocking Reality for Young Girls
For many girls, the dream is to have a beautiful wedding and find a loving partner. In Hindu culture, marriage is celebrated as a grand festival. However, there exists a country where girls are not allowed to marry in the traditional sense. Surprisingly, this does not mean they remain single for life.
In Mexico, particularly in the southern regions, there is a troubling tradition where young girls are sold as brides. This practice has persisted for centuries among indigenous communities, where parents sell their underage daughters for amounts ranging from $2,000 to $18,000. While some individuals are raising their voices against this tradition, the resistance has not been strong enough to dismantle such a deeply rooted custom.
A poignant example is 14-year-old Eloina Feliciano, who pleaded with her mother not to arrange her marriage, but her request went unheard. In her mountainous home in Guerrero, she recalls asking her mother to refrain from selling her, stating, "We are not animals; only animals are sold."
Despite the ongoing practice in numerous communities in Guerrero, there is a growing movement to end the sale of daughters. Reports indicate that parents demand between $2,000 and $18,000 for their daughters to be sold as brides.
Barrera, the director of the Tlacochinolan Center for Human Rights of the Mountain, emphasizes the vulnerability of these girls, stating that their new families often treat them as slaves, burdening them with domestic and agricultural tasks. In some cases, they face sexual exploitation from their in-laws. It raises the question of how anyone could tolerate such treatment of their daughters, yet this tradition continues under the guise of cultural practices. Human rights advocates have not been vocal enough against this issue, which is a significant humanitarian concern. Official statistics reveal that Mexico has a population of 126 million, with 10% belonging to indigenous communities, and approximately 70% living in poverty. This suggests that poverty may be a driving factor behind such traditions. Regardless, selling a girl is fundamentally inhumane and must be stopped, allowing girls like Feliciano to live life on their own terms and seek their own partners.