IJFS - Interdisciplinary Journal of Family Studies

This study examines sociological factors that influence child marriage and gender relations in the post-independence South Sudan. Grounded theory (GT) methodology is utilized to discuss how sociocultural construction of gender relationships and socialization can influ-ence gender relations and equitable female and male contribution to the society. The sam-ple of interviewed participants consisted of 55 females and 36 males chosen at random. The study covered the period from August 2015 to October 2017. The sample represented four counties—Mapel, Kabul, Besselian, and Jury River—of the Wau State, in Bahr el Ghazal. Qualitative data was collected through questionnaires and focus group discussions. Findings yielded by the GT analysis revealed that child marriage is socially constructed and is perceived as an acceptable social norm. This practice is further complicated by the effects of everlasting conflict, poverty, and high illiteracy rate in the society