Intersecting masculinities and early marriage in the margins of Terai/Madesh, Nepal Rethinking early marriage policy and practice through a DPSIR drivers, pressures, state, impact, and response analysis of lived realities and critical framings in global and national frameworks

Early marriage, often referred to as child marriage, remains a persistent global issue occurring before individuals attain sufficient physical, emotional, psychological, and social maturity, with significant implications for gender justice, health, and social development. While research and policy on child marriage in South Asia have largely focused on girls, far less attention has been paid to how masculinities and the social expectations placed on boys and men shape the persistence of early marriage systems. This study examines these dynamics among the caste-marginalised Mushar communities in Nepal’s Terai/Madhesh region.
Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and policy analysis, the research shows that social norms surrounding masculinity such as becoming an adult early, providing economically, and protecting family honour can create pressures that encourage boys to marry young. At the same time, young people sometimes negotiate or challenge these expectations through their own relationships, preferences, and decisions.
The dissertation argues that effective responses to early marriage must engage both girls and boys, recognising that masculinities are shaped by broader social, economic, and structural inequalities. Addressing early marriage therefore requires not only legal reforms or behaviour change campaigns, but also deeper attention to the relational and intersectional forces that shape young people’s choices. By centring marginalised voices, the study highlights the need for context specific, gender transformative approaches that support more equitable pathways into adulthood.