Houston Matters

Underage Marriage: Closer to Home and More Common Than You’d Think

When you hear the term “child bride,” you’re likely to think of something happening a long time ago and somewhere far away, writes the Houston Chronicle’s Frankie Ortega. But for her, it happened much closer to home. In the 1970s, her own mother was forced – by her mother – to get married at the […]

| Posted on

Frankie Ortega's mother pictured in the 1970s with the man she married at age 14. He was 21. Photo Courtesy: Frankie Ortega.

When you hear the term “child bride,” you’re likely to think of something happening a long time ago and somewhere far away, writes the Houston Chronicle’s Frankie Ortega. But for her, it happened much closer to home. In the 1970s, her own mother was forced – by her mother – to get married at the age of 14 to a man who was 21 in Orange, Texas.

She tells Houston Matters producer Michael Hagerty her mom’s story, and says underage marriages are still legal in Texas in some circumstances — and happen more than you’d think.

You can find more on her story in Sunday’s edition (Feb. 21, 2016) of the Chronicle.

(Above: Frankie Ortega’s mother pictured in the 1970s with the man she married at age 14. He was 21. Photo Courtesy: Frankie Ortega.)

MORE:
A Child Bride in Texas (Houston Chronicle, Jan. 26, 2016)

Share