In American media, the term sharia law is repetitively used as a reason behind practices and actions linked to Islam which would be considered counter to Western morals. The term sharia is first clarified as having many definitions, but in legal terms each Islamic nation has their own version of sharia. Child marriage is one of many topics often blamed on sharia and this essay attempts to debunk the Western portrayal of sharia by exploring the reality of child marriage in some Islamic nations. The examples depict both situations in which the people, despite the laws, are actively keeping this practice in place and a disconnect between child marriages and a lack of access to education for women. In conclusion, there is a variance between the depiction of sharia law in the media and the reality of sharia in many Islamic nations
