Vice Essentials Season 2 Episode 4 Young Brides for Sale

In season 2 episode 4 of Vice Essentials, titled "Young Brides for Sale", the show explores the issue of forced child marriages in various parts of the world. The episode takes viewers to different countries like Afghanistan, India, and Yemen, where underage girls are married off to much older men without their consent, often in exchange for money, property, or other forms of economic gain.

Through interviews with experts, activists, and survivors, the show sheds light on the alarming prevalence of child marriages, which affects millions of girls worldwide, depriving them of their childhood, education, and basic human rights. The episode also examines the complex cultural, social, and economic factors that drive this harmful practice, including poverty, gender inequality, religious beliefs, and traditional customs.

In Afghanistan, Vice correspondent Ben Anderson meets a young girl who was forced to marry a 55-year-old man when she was only 9 years old. Despite being legally considered a crime, child marriages are widespread in rural areas of the country, and families often see it as a way to protect their daughters from harassment, violence, or poverty. The show also features an interview with a female lawmaker who is fighting against child marriages and advocating for stricter laws and punishments against perpetrators.

In India, Vice speaks with an activist who runs a shelter for young girls who have escaped child marriages. The activist explains how poverty, illiteracy, and caste system contribute to the prevalence of child marriages in some parts of the country, particularly in rural and tribal areas. The episode also highlights the role of education and empowerment in preventing child marriages and creating a better future for girls.

Finally, the show travels to Yemen, where child marriages are legal and common, with about a third of girls married before the age of 18. Vice meets a 10-year-old girl who was forced to marry a man more than twice her age, and who dreams of becoming a teacher but fears she may have to drop out of school to fulfill her husband's expectations. The episode also features interviews with local women's rights activists who are struggling to change the law and raise awareness about the harmful effects of child marriages on girls' health and well-being.

Throughout the episode, Vice Essentials highlights the voices and experiences of the young brides themselves, giving them a platform to speak out against this harmful practice and demand their right to freedom, education, and dignity. The show offers a sobering but important look at a global issue that affects millions of girls every year and calls for urgent action to end child marriages and ensure the rights and well-being of all children.