BlazeAug 14, 2023

[AskEurope] Fellow Europeans, what is the aspect of USA lifestyle that surprises you the most?

https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/1865941

[AskEurope] Fellow Europeans, what is the aspect of USA lifestyle that surprises you the most? - tchncs

First of all, let’s try to avoid American-bashing, and stay respectful to everyone. I’ll start: for me it’s the tipping culture. Especially nowadays, with the recent post on [email protected] [/c/[email protected]] [https://lemmy.world/c/mildlyinfuriating] with the 40% tip, it just seems so weird to me to have to pay extra just so that menu prices can stay low.

Show threadSquare SingerAug 14, 2023
I was really surprised that quite a few states have a minimum marrying age of 0. And apparently, it’s more common than you’d expect for girls as young as 14 to get married, often to far older men.
Show threadmk36109Aug 14, 2023
Children as young as 12 or 14 getting married is not at all common. The study the wikipedia article you posted claims less than 1500 hundred children over 18 years that were married at the age of 12-14 in a country of over 330million. It also points out that of those under 18, the vast majority was 17. Not to say that it isn't a problem and should be fixed, but its not common what so ever and I would guess 90% of americans will never meet someone married under the age of 18 and except for some of the most rural middle of now where places its considered pretty horrific and unacceptable by most americans.
United States' Child Marriage Problem: Study Findings (April 2021) - Unchained At Last

The United States has a child marriage problem - but a simple solution is available.

Unchained At Last
Show threadSquare SingerAug 14, 2023

The study was talking about 300 000 children being married. That’s not a few.

And 1321 of them were 14 and younger.

That’s 300k and 1321 respectively too many.

And apparently, at least for some republicans, this is a policy worth fighting for: google.com/…/mike-moon-gop-missouri-lawmaker-defe…

Mike Moon, GOP Missouri lawmaker, defends child's right to get married

"Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12?" Missouri State Sen. Mike Moon asked. "I do. And guess what? They're still married."

Insider
Show threadmk36109
Though I agree its too many, (even one is too many) my problem is saying its common. Saying that 1,321 over an 18 year period in a country of over 330 million people is a common occurrence doesn't sound common at all to me.
Aug 14, 2023 at 8:28pmWeb
Show threadSerpentAug 16, 2023
He said it was more common than you would expect. So it is a subjective matter. I happen to agree with him as I would expect the figure to be none in a developed country.