'Women just have to accept it when the man wants it'. An investigation of the practice of forced marriage and the potential for design interventions

Abstract

There is a growing interest in HCI on issues of marginalized communities and women’s well-being, including domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV). Forced marriage (FM), a practice related to DV and IPV but with its own unique characteristics, is comparatively underexplored. This paper addresses the widespread problem of FM through a qualitative study involving individuals affected by FM and workers for a non-governmental organization (NGO) that assists people affected by FM. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the practice of FM, the challenges in avoiding or escaping FM, and role technology may play. We identified three key themes of relevance for HCI: Information & Resources, Situational Context, and Technology Misuse. Based on these themes, we engaged in preliminary design explorations ranging from immediate intervention to enduring empowerment and formulated a set of design considerations for HCI researchers and practitioners to support help efforts in the FM context.