Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:

That's control.

That's my feeling too. 

adwil said:

My father advised me never to go to court over anything.

That's the best way to ensure that nothing ever changes.

Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:

Mai thought getting married at 17 would help her parents' financial strife, but what happened instead was not what she expected.

A lot of people in other societies see that their first duty is to the family. In societies where the male is dominant, women and children have to do as they're told. 

When my father's second wife remarried, her husband prevented my half sister from continuing with her piano lessons, and blocked her musical career.  

All children and the wives had to do as they were told. My Grandfather refused to let my father go to Grammar School because he hadn't. My father joined the army as soon as he could and never spoke directly to his father again.

"That's the best way to ensure that nothing ever changes."

It's the best way of ensuring you hang on to your house and possessions so you can will them to your children. 

They got married because they were poor.

How is foregoing an education and saddling themselves with 3 kids helping the situation?

Where did your family live?

"They got married because they were poor.

How is foregoing an education and saddling themselves with 3 kids helping the situation?"

It doesn't.

Where did your family live?

South Wales.

Is that anywhere near Ross-On-Wye?

I have friends there.

Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:

Is that anywhere near Ross-On-Wye?

My father's side of the family are around Newport, 30 or so miles away from Ross-on-Wye which, of course is in a different country.

Well there you go!