International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Making Their Voices Heard: The Experiences of Children Born Outside of Marriage

Frimever T. Engo, Realuz B. Castro, Ariel E. San Jose*
Institute of Human Service, Southern Philippines, Agribusiness and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology,
Malita, Davao Occidental, Philippines
*Corresponding author

Abstract: This qualitative-phenomenological study investigated the experiences of children born outside of marriage. The Snowball sampling technique was utilized in selecting the 10 participants. A structured interview script was developed to gather the information. Results revealed that the challenges encountered by children born outside of marriage include discrimination, social stigma, difficulty, and abandonment. Moreover, their coping strategies included forgiveness, a positive mindset, and determination. Furthermore, for their voices to be heard, they proposed that the government may provide them with counselling, implement the No Discrimination Law, and provide free education. Finally, the significant experience that they could share included forgiveness, resentment, a sense of responsibility, and resilience.

Keywords: Children born outside of marriage, challenges, coping strategies, discrimination, SPAMAST

I. INTRODUCTION

On a global scale, children born outside of marriage rate is rising every day. These children tend to suffer discrimination in public activity since they are perceived as a disgrace in the locality. They are constantly attacked with condescending remarks because some believe they are an outcome of unlawful relationships. They are even subjected to hatred by their peers because they see them as fiasco to the general atmosphere. These accumulated disparagements and disdain will have a long-term psychological impact on kids [1]. Children born outside of marriage may result from poverty, inadequate education, family breakdown, cohabitation, the non-validity of divorce, inadequate contraception, prostitution, promiscuity, slavery, or war. The bulk of this increase is among young women in the 15-20 age group. Such births occur more often in poorer social groups. The apparent increase in the incidences of nonmarital births in the country creates considerable apprehensions about the welfare of these children born out of wedlock [2].
In the Philippines, there is a 53 percent increase in children born outside of marriage, as shown by statistics in 2018. Eastern Visayas and the National Capital Region have the leading number [3]. In Davao region, more than 58.1% of live births were born out of wedlock. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data shows that most babies born before the pandemic are born outside of wedlocks [4]. On the other hand, Davao Occidental has the lowest number of live births, about 1,430, but the number of children out of wedlock is not specified [5]. Thus, this study was conducted to explore the