Forced Marriage as a Contemporary Family Issue
A forced marriage is a marriage entered into without the free and valid consent of one or both parties, using physical, emotional or financial pressure or violence, distinct from an arranged marriage, where families may help select a partner but both parties consent freely.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Start every answer by clearly distinguishing forced marriage, no genuine consent, involving pressure or coercion, from arranged marriage, both parties consent, families assist rather than compel, since exam questions often test this distinction directly.
- Learn the two named laws: the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007, introduced Forced Marriage Protection Orders, a civil remedy, and the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, made forced marriage a specific criminal offence in England and Wales.
- Apply the feminist perspective as the main sociological lens: forced marriage as a form of patriarchal control, often linked to controlling a person's, usually a woman's, choices, sexuality or perceived family honour.
- Use this topic as a case study for the wider theme of the changing relationship between the family and the state, since it shows the state directly intervening in what was once treated as a private, family matter.
- When explaining causes, refer to social/cultural pressures, family or community expectations, protecting perceived honour or reputation, managing property or status, rather than attributing the practice to any single religion or ethnicity, since it can occur in various cultural contexts.
- For an 'assess'/'discuss' question on state intervention, weigh the argument that the law protects vulnerable individuals against concerns that legal solutions alone may not reach or fully protect victims who are dependent on their family.
Worked example
Explain the difference between a forced marriage and an arranged marriage, and describe one way the law protects people at risk of forced marriage.
- Define forced marriage: a marriage that takes place without the free and valid consent of one or both parties, often involving pressure, coercion or violence.
- Define arranged marriage: a marriage in which families may help introduce or select a partner, but both parties give genuine consent and are free to refuse the match.
- State the key distinguishing feature: consent. An arranged marriage is voluntary; a forced marriage is not.
- Describe the legal protection: the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 allows courts to issue Forced Marriage Protection Orders, which can, for example, prevent a person's passport being taken or prevent them being taken abroad against their will.
- Add the criminal law point: since the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, forcing someone to marry is also a specific criminal offence in England and Wales, meaning it can lead to prosecution, not only civil protection.
- Conclude: the law gives both a civil route, protection orders, and a criminal route, prosecution, for responding to forced marriage.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Define 'forced marriage'.Show answer
Answer: A marriage entered into without the free and valid consent of one or both parties, often involving physical, emotional or financial pressure, coercion or violence.
Q2How does a forced marriage differ from an arranged marriage?Show answer
Answer: In an arranged marriage both parties genuinely consent and are free to refuse, while in a forced marriage consent is absent and pressure or coercion is used.
Q3Name the act that introduced Forced Marriage Protection Orders in England and Wales.Show answer
Answer: The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007.
Q4Name the act that made forced marriage a specific criminal offence in England and Wales.Show answer
Answer: The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Q5Give one example of what a Forced Marriage Protection Order might do.Show answer
Answer: For example, prevent a person's passport being taken away, or prevent them being taken abroad against their will.
Q6How might feminists explain forced marriage?Show answer
Answer: As an extreme form of patriarchal control, often linked to controlling a person's choices or sexuality or to protecting perceived family honour or status.
Q7How does forced marriage relate to the wider topic of the family and the state?Show answer
Answer: It is an example of the state intervening directly in family and personal life to protect an individual, showing that family matters are not always treated purely as private.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Sociology exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Explain two ways forced marriage differs from arranged marriage.
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'The law is the most effective way to protect people from forced marriage.' Discuss this view.
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See real GCSE Sociology past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
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