I mean quite seriously that putting children in romantic, intimate relationships is legal in America. Only 6 states have banned marrying children. I’m emphasizing this because I want to point out the degree in which sexual violence is normalized, to the point where 5 percent of women in a study who believed they weren’t sexually abused might realize they have been and be dropped out of the study is totally within the bounds of reality.

Excuse me for asking but you keep saying children without mentioning particular age. In the case of Roma bride markets, I've been quoted age 12 and beyond. Quite young at the lower end, no doubt, but at the risk of drawing people's wrath, 16 and above, while bad, isn't that horrible... until we get back to our senses and realize the whole thing sucks because they are forced or at least strongly encouraged to do it.

There are states where there is no minimum limit for child marriage.

Doesn't that collide with age of consent? I am having a hard time believing this

> Doesn't that collide with age of consent?

Typically (though you can probably find exceptions to either or both), modern low or no limits for child marriage systems feature:

1. Parental consent laws for marriage below a certain age, and

2. Marital exceptions to age of consent laws for sex.