Jammu, Sep 12: Once bound by the conventions of a patriarchal society where elders decided their marital future, women in Jammu and Kashmir are increasingly asserting their right to choose when, whom — or even whether — to marry. The shift marks a quiet but profound change in social norms across the region, particularly in urban centers.
For generations, marriages in J&K were arranged largely to ensure social and economic stability, often sidelining women’s aspirations for higher education or professional careers. Early marriage was the norm, with little space for personal choice.
Today, however, statistics paint a different picture. The SRS Statistical Report 2023 estimates that 44% of women in Jammu and Kashmir remain unmarried. While independent confirmation of this figure is limited, previous data indicates a similar trend. In 2022, 43% of women were recorded as married — suggesting that a majority, including unmarried, widowed, and divorced women, were outside the institution of marriage.
Equally significant is the rising average age of marriage. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, women in J&K now marry at an average age of 24.7 years, compared to the national average of 22.1 years. This marks a sharp rise from the early 1990s, when the average marriage age in the region was just 21 years.
Sociologists attribute this transformation to greater access to education, employment opportunities, and changing family attitudes, especially in urban areas. “Women today are more aware of their rights and choices. They want to build careers, achieve financial independence, and enter marriage on their own terms,” said a Srinagar-based social researcher.
The trend, experts believe, is gradually reshaping family structures and challenging long-held patriarchal norms. It is also seen as a sign of growing empowerment, even though challenges persist in rural pockets where early marriages and social pressure remain prevalent.
As Jammu and Kashmir navigates these transitions, one thing is clear: women’s voices in the Valley are becoming stronger, and their choices are steadily redefining the institution of marriage.
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