A marriage dowry was meant to showcase the wealth and status of a family but now serves as a means for oppression. It is a gruesome practice that the world desperately wishes to eradicate. The subjugation of women and the exploitation of families cuts across all socioeconomic classes, which raises many questions. Why did this practice start, and more perplexing, why does it continue in modern society? This practice deeply resonates with the evils of education, poverty, and discrimination, and its impact can be seen throughout society. It does not matter if there is a lower, middle, or upper class. Every stratum of society is somehow impacted by this dreadful tradition. The origins of a dowry are as erratic as its practice, and that is why it remains unsolved to this day. However, attempting to solve the mystery uncovers a painful reality that is hard to bear.
While this custom has ill ramifications, some cultures have embraced the dowry system and marketed it as a tradition. This practice is especially proliferating amongst well-educated and high-earning families, where the dowry literally translates into gold pieces, sometimes amounting to kilograms, in addition to a plethora of other assets. This practice has greatly shifted to show wealth and status instead of respect, and many families are pressured to over-accumulate just to live up to the unreasonable standards. The shocking part about these societies is that, even with considerable positive economic growth and education, the dowry system still members of society as a normalized tradition. Rather, it continues to fuel the existing societal divide by gender, creating a highly taxing environment for women and their families. This is often the paradoxical reality for educated households where the refurbished pups of dowry is presented: education and awareness have skyrocketed, yet the value of marriage remains transactional rather than relational. Even when looking at this phenomena through the lens of development and modernization, dowry stands as the quintessential example of deeply rooted patriarchy and capitalist exploitation, transcending societal boundaries.
It is often interlinked with the groom’s profession, with the amount of gold, cash, and at times even car brands that are to be provided depending on the groom’s job or status. The sad part is that it has made what was originally a traditional practice into a show of status, where one flaunts their financial well-being and social standing through material possessions. Even highly educated and working women-who would normally be expected to rise above these outdated practices-are also not exempt from such demands. Whatever the personal achievements or independent status of a woman, it is the onus of an appropriate dowry-most often, extremely lavish that remains on her family. In this way, dowry makes women be estimated not as a partner in life but as being worth as much as coming from a family that could “compensate” for the marriage. Though the practice has its roots in tradition, today it has transformed into an oppressive tool, serving only to reinforce social hierarchies and economic disparities, no matter how progressive any individuals involved might be.
“The Dowry System and the Abuse of Women” by Ruth K. Chao throws light on the psychological, emotional, and physical abuse women suffer at the hands of the dowry system. It looks into how the system sustains violence against women and how law and society can address the issue. In this era when females have become so confident, independent, and strong enough to decide for themselves concerning their life, career, etc., the practice of a dowry system is a sheer contradiction that leads us towards the hypocrisy of society. In spite of all the advancements made in gender equality, women’s rights, and education, the dowry system attempts to nullify all principles of equality and justice. It talks of a society that celebrates advancements in other areas, but still clings to age-old traditions that treat women as though they are some sort of commodities to be sold or purchased for a price. The dowry system perpetuates the belief that the value of a woman is not in her capability, achievements, or character but in how much money she or her family can give as part of a marriage. It is only another illustration of how, despite apparent promotion of equality between the sexes in some countries, traditional stereotypes and underlying patriarchal attitudes continue to shape practice and attitude.
This is a critique of the dire necessity for legislative reforms but also societal mind-set itself to perceive women differently. Gender equality will remain elusive until practices like dowry are abolished because women are valued and judged on parameters that have no place in a modern and progressive society. The fight is not yet won; there is a necessity to continue the struggle against such practices toward a world nearer to one in which women would be treated with true equality.
Dr Haseena Kabeer is a freelancer columnist.