In this piece, Ms. Magazine spoke to Jeanne Smoot, Tahirih Senior Counsel for Policy and Strategy, on the alarming rates of child marriage in North Carolina.
In this piece, Ms. Magazine spoke to Jeanne Smoot, Tahirih Senior Counsel for Policy and Strategy, on the alarming rates of child marriage in North Carolina.
Today, Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill that ends child marriage in the state of Washington by raising the legal age for marriage to 18 without exceptions. This significant step marks a historical moment for Washington as it becomes the first state on the West Coast and the 11th state in the country to end child marriage.
In honor of Women’s History Month this March, Tahirih staff are honoring inspiring immigrant women activists, past and present, who have made an impact on immigrant rights and women’s rights in the U.S. and globally.
I came to the U.S. in the winter of 2006. Life back home in Mexico was tough for me and my family. I dreamt of going to college and graduating but with my family’s economic status, that dream was too costly and impossible.
At least I was able to graduate high school and that is something I am proud of since I was also working at the time to help my family. I was always looking for an opportunity to have a better life as a young woman.
“I hope my story is helpful to someone else…and can inspire many women to be stronger. We need to help young women identify toxic relationships, so that there are fewer Camilas that go through such difficult things, let alone have our children suffer.”
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