What is a shotgun wedding?

A shotgun wedding, also known as a forced marriage, is a wedding that is precipitated by an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. It is often driven by social pressure, particularly from the woman's family, to ensure the child is raised within a traditional family structure.

Here are key aspects of a shotgun wedding:

• <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Unplanned%20Pregnancy">Unplanned Pregnancy</a>: The primary catalyst for a shotgun wedding is typically an unexpected pregnancy outside of marriage.

• <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Social%20Pressure">Social Pressure</a>: The couple, and particularly the man, may face intense social pressure to marry, often from the woman's parents or the community. This pressure stems from traditional values surrounding premarital sex and the stigma of single motherhood.

• <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Legitimacy">Legitimacy</a>: A major motivation behind shotgun weddings is to legitimize the child within society. Marriage ensures the child has a recognized father and is not considered illegitimate.

• Decline: Shotgun weddings were more common in previous generations but have significantly declined in Western societies with changing social norms, increased acceptance of single parenthood, and readily available <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Birth%20Control">Birth Control</a>.

• Coercion: While sometimes entered willingly, shotgun weddings can involve elements of coercion or duress, potentially leading to an unhappy or unstable marriage.

• Historical Context: The term "shotgun wedding" itself implies the use of force, with the woman's father (or another male relative) metaphorically holding a shotgun to ensure the man agrees to marry his daughter. This highlights the power dynamics involved.