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Part of my work is to dig through the roots of patriarchal oppression, expose it for what it is, and bring light to ways in which we can smash it into oblivion. So, when I hear about stories of girls who are given to their abusers to be married at the age of 13 because they are pregnant - I am outraged (and enraged). Dawn Tyree is a fierce survivor of child marriage and turned her experience into an incredible life\u2019s work. She was not raised in a fanatical cult. Girls being married off to their abuser is happening all over the U.S. every year.\xa0\nIn this episode, Dawn joined me to talk about her experience. We discuss the problem of child marriage and how we can resolve it. She is an author, activist, and a founding member of The National Coalition to End Child Marriage in the U.S. Her testimony and that of other survivors played a crucial role in ending child marriage in 4 U.S. States. Her experience has been published in multiple major publications around the world. I am honored that she joined me to share her story.\xa0\nShow Highlights\n\nDawn shares her story of being left in the care of an adult, experiencing sexual abuse at his hands, and being forced to marry him at 13. (8:57)\n\nThe system is set up to let sexual abuse, abandonment, and child marriage happen. (13:13)\n\nDawn\u2019s experience of being manipulated into believing that child marriage was the best choice. (15:31)\n\nHow and when Dawn became aware that she was a victim of a sexual predator/abuser, how she began to process those emotions and started to plot her way out. (17:49)\n\nThe story of her divorce and custody proceedings - as a minor. By the way, there is NO minimum age to marry (currently) in the state of CA. But, you have to be 18 years old in order for a divorce to be finalized. (27:26)\n\nFrom a parenting perspective, how Dawn spoke to her children about her/their situation. (29:01)\n\nWhy you have to take your children out of an abusive situation and give them the opportunity to see what else there is. (35:19)\n\nWhat we can do to help end child marriage in the U.S. (41:32)\n\nDawn explains why child marriage is a form of sex trafficking in plain sight. (50:21)\n\nLearn More About Dawn:\nDawn Tyree is an author, activist, and a founding member of The National Coalition to End Child Marriage in the U.S. She is currently working with Global Hope 365 to help end child marriage in California. Her testimony and that of other survivors played a crucial role in ending child marriage in 4 U.S. States. The story of her experience as a child forced into marriage has been published in The New York Times, Reuters, The Sun, DailyMail, The News-Review, WRAL, Freedom United, Portland Metrozine, YES! Magazine, and printed into 12 different languages. Dawn works with multiple organizations and universities across the nation to help educate and offer support in comparative studies (the US and international) on child marriage and human rights abuse issues. Dawn was featured in a two-hour documentary on child marriage in the U.S. as part of the A & E Network docu-series, \u201cI Was a Child Bride: The Untold Story\u201d with Elizabeth Vargas that aired in April 2019. She continues her activism work in tandem with writing her harrowing story of overcoming the toughest of odds. Tyree is enjoying life in the Pacific Northwest Coastal Range.\nResources & Links:\n\nNational Coalition to End Child Marriage\xa0\n\n\nDawn on FacebookDawn on Instagram\n\n\n California Coalition to End Child Marriage\n\n\n Child Marriage \u2013 Shocking StatisticsStudents Against Child Marriage\n\n\n A&E\u2019s I Was a Child Bride: The Untold Story\n\nGET HELP:\xa0\nNational Human Trafficking Hotline:\xa0\n1-888-373-7888\xa0\nText: befree to *233733\n Should I Stay or Should I Go Facebook Group\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices