Marriage patterns
Twenty-two % from Dominican teenage lady old fifteen to twenty is actually both already hitched otherwise co-habitating which have one. This provides the fresh new Dominican Republic, just after Cuba (29%), the best rates away from women adolescent cohabitation regarding the Caribbean and you will matches really into large cost found in Central American regions (mediocre = 20.3%: United nations Society Section 2000). However, park teams showcase stunningly greater numbers of teenage girls entering partnership than simply one discovered at the brand new national level. In fact, significantly more female according to the chronilogical age of 21 on learnt playground places go into unions and they enter into on before ages than simply everywhere regarding the West Hemisphere: 20.3% off park feamales in the brand new 21 to half a century a long time had entered relationship in advance of sixteen yrs . old; 74.% had entered up until the age of 21 years. The latest development are latest, that have seemed for the past 3 decades: Originating in this new 1970s what amount of people entering partnership in advance of its sixteenth birthday enhanced of ten in order to 20% of all of the female where a long time (Table 5).
A lot of the marriage ceremonies throughout the park components have traditionally began given that consensual unions but discover culture and you may personal regulations linked to the new consolidation of a great consensual relationship you to definitely imbues the brand new connection with foregone conclusion and societal desired. The brand new ‘marriage’ is generally structured in the miracle and you will pertains to an elopement. The “groom” escapes together with “bride” so you’re able to a motel inside the neighborhood area, to a great relative’s home, or even their parent’s domestic. Whenever their daughter does not appear within a fair hour, the mother and father realize that she’s got been “removed.” Inside the Los Postes customs dictates your guy appear on the brand new overnight to inquire about the woman’s parents forgiveness to take the child. For the Los Papas the standard practice is named the newest “besa mano,” this new making out of one’s hands. The newest ‘bride’ essentially remains hidden in your house of your own male’s relatives avergonzada (embarrassed) before ninth day. During this time period the male check outs your ex parents and you will requires because of their true blessing. To your ninth day the newest bride-to-be is offered and a food or team try stored to enjoy the newest commitment and you can promote the brand new family along with her. The newest parents or other people in town thus render a beneficial public legitimization with the connection just like the wedding ceremony in the elite group west circles. The couple relates to one another given that couple (“esposa” or “mujer” and “esposo” otherwise “marido”) that will be likely to mode an independent house and create college students.
New Dominican Republic enjoys legislation mandating punishment for men over you are yrs old which practice intercourse with ladies minors
Moms and dads many times show that when the girl are “taken,” they end up being the complete duty of its husbands. It share with their brand new “son in law” your child is actually his; he’s to provide for this lady and not mistreat the lady. But campesinos stress that once the girl try removed they experience a conversion process. They grow up and will only go back to the parental house in case there is a crisis throughout the dating such as for example abandonment otherwise really serious mistreatment of the husband. Also, parents is actually making it possible for the girl so you can elope from the even more, and also spectacularly more youthful many years seen prior to.
Local government, whenever questioned, was indeed emphatic towards applying of the law. If the mothers protest, what the law states is enforced. The guy is actually fined and you will incarcerated to possess a period of several days to as much as two years. Although fact is you to definitely mothers about park section are maybe not responding up against men who run off 
due to their young girl. On the contrary, it would appear that mothers is increasingly having fun with ‘marriage’ just like the a method to escape the burden out-of taking care of girl which no further features a life threatening economic well worth into domestic. Because the seen, prior to now three decades 20% of women in the area got left house and registered towards the first partnership before their sixteen birth big date; 76% had entered union and you can remaining house by 21 years of age (see Dining table 5). Matrimony within this type of most more youthful age are recent. One forty-five 12 months-dated men informant lamented,