Hope or Continued Captivity: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Future Aspirations of Girls Who Returned to their Families after Forced Marriage

Abstract

Child marriage remains a pressing global concern, with over 640 million women and girls affected, yet little is known about how girls reconstruct their futures after exiting such unions. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences and future aspirations of formerly married girls who have been reintegrated into their families in rural Binga, Zimbabwe. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 girls aged 14–17. Findings revealed four interrelated themes: disrupted identity and girlhood, ambivalent reintegration, fragile aspirations, and the emotional complexity of meaning-making. Intersectional Feminism illuminated how age, gender, poverty, and rurality intersect to shape postmarriage recovery. The study concludes that reintegration is not inherently restorative; rather, it often re-inscribes silence and stigma. Implications for practice include the need for psychosocial support, age-flexible education pathways, and community-based reintegration models that prioritize girls’ emotional, developmental, and aspirational recovery.