Trading Surname And Cursing The Strength Of A Marraige.

Dowry..Dowry..Dowry! We don't like it, we avoid. But dowry likes us, we can't avoid.

Illustration By Feminism In India

Namaste.

Marriage is an integral part of society, a source of joy and festivities as well as of new beginnings. Yet, one of the longest standing evils associated with marriage in the Indian society is the Dowry system. Wedding gifts, usually money from a bride’s family paid to a groom’s family to solidify a marriage. But mind a little closer and you’ll find a system as ugly and corrosive to women’s rights as child marriage, female genital mutilation, and systems of patriarchy.

With its adoption across different communities, religions or caste has led to a century old ceremony turn into a social atrocity. In some countries around the world, dowries are common practice. This practice directly or indirectly oppresses the women's rights and oftentimes it leads to abuse and violence.

This transaction system was supposed to be a gift, but the tables have turned and the dowry is now a demand and the demands for dowry are steadily increasing, making marriage more like a business-transaction.

More than 8,000 women die as a result of India’s dowry system every year. Sometimes a woman is murdered by her husband or in-laws, other times, women commit suicide after facing harassment and abuse. The violence they face ranges from brutal beatings, emotional torture, withholding money, throwing them out of the house, keeping them away from their children and, even burning the wife alive. On a daily basis, India sees approximately 20 dowry fatalities.

While women undoubtedly bear the brunt of the abuse, men have also came forward with false dowry accusations and the misuse of anti-dowry laws in India. Although women are forced to the pay the dowry, few men claim it is the price that extorted from them during divorce.

"Offering Dowry is as wrong as accepting."

Extortion in the name of social standing, compensation for the cost of groom’s education, his financial stability is a key feature of Indian marriages. With the backdrop of such societal structure, women are often considered second-tier citizens, fit to assume only domesticated roles.

Religious constraints imposed by the society on marriage customs, mainly suitability of groom from the same religion restrict the women in many ways. Aside from similar religious backgrounds, further constraints are imposed based on caste system and social status. One’s worth in society is often measured by how much one spends in daughter’s wedding or how much jewelry one gives to them. This perspective heavily justifies the practice of dowry demands.

With the literacy rate of approximately 75% in the country, lack of awareness among people persuades them to give and demand dowries. In addition, a large number of women are deliberately kept from education either due to certain superstitions or from the belief that educating girls will take away from their eligibility as good wives.

Many families in India give dowry to get rid of their insecurity of ill-treatment of their daughters by their in-laws. There is a perception that giving dowry will ensure their daughter’s security after marriage and non-discrimination. Still countless crimes and fatalaties against all genders are happening throughout the world.

When we speak of gender inequality in the nation, dowry system can be considered the catalyst for this issue. It has imposed an invisible chain upon the freedom and self-respect of women and continues to haunt them since time eternal. It doesn't affect the girl alone, but also her family's financial status can be deteriorated.

Women who are unable to make additional payments in the future are often subject to harassment and abuse. Families make child marraiges to avoid huge settlements. India has the most child brides in the world and this evolves into gigantic proportions taking the shape of infanticides and foeticides of girl child. To keep dowry prices low, families also keep girls from going to school, because dowry prices increase with each additional year of formal education.

Parents sell their farmland to come up with a dowry. And some take out high-interest loans from money lenders and get trapped with huge debts. The dowry system also disadvantages women who are disabled or who have health conditions.

There are women’s rights and economic justice movements growing in India that seek to abolish dowries.

Dowry Prohibition Laws. Several laws have been enacted to prohibit the practice of dowry and the injustice against women stemming from it. The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, IPC Sections 304B, 498A, IEC Section 113B, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 all deal with dowry and act of demanding, giving and creating violence are strictly punishable offenses.

Independence. Education is the primary catalyst of growth in any nation and eradicating this evil is not possible without educating the society. Ensuring employment opportunities for the female sect and making education feasible seems the first step to ensure annihilation of dowry system from the society. They will also be able to strive for self-dependence and not view marriage as their only salvation.

Government Initiatives and Awareness. Government is the formulator of laws and executes them to make sure people follow them for the betterment of the society. It is highly necessary to ensure a zero-tolerance policy for such offenders and ensure enforcement of the law through systemic changes. India as a country requires major overhaul of its existing mindsets in order to push back against the wicked custom of dowry. Efforts to spread awareness should be made against dowry and dowry-related violence and women should be made aware of their rights.

With women playing a major role in society, the charge lies with them as well to fight this social evil and help other women stand against it.

PS: I'm not here to offend anyone, but if you feel aggrieved with my writing, kindly ignore my posts.

Lemme know your thoughts in the comments. Thanks!

Jai Hind.