Fewer forced marriages among immigrant women and daughters of immigrants

Abstract

The Trajectories and Origins survey gathered information on respondents' conditions of marriage, making it possibleto identify cases of "non-consensual" marriage. These are unwanted marriages, initiated by the spouse or the family,but contracted in response to psychological, social or physical coercion. For 9% of immigrant women aged 51-60 in 2008, their first marriage was contracted against their will. Theproportion is lower among younger immigrant women (2% in the 26-30 age group) and among the daughters ofimmigrants (1% of the 26-30 age group). Non-consensual marriage is most frequent among immigrant women from countries and regions where singlehood is frowned upon andpremarital sexuality prohibited, such as Turkey, North Africa and Sahelian Africa.