Dowry is a crucial problem in many countries in the world. According to multiple sources including the BBC, an Indian woman was rejected from her potential marriage several times for dowry. But she is not the only victim of dowry, a deeply rooted problem that has been prevalent in many cultures throughout history. Many women are the victims of it in terms of not only the rejection from potential marriage but also torture and divorce, if the demands are not met, in many countries around the world. In addition to victims, dowry has far-reaching and detrimental consequences to the family of victims and society as a whole including economic hardships for families and harmful stereotypes in society.
It is pertinently notable that gifts in the form of cash money, jewelry, furniture, car, land, flat or anything else are acceptable in all countries when they are given voluntarily for the wellbeing of the bride, her husband and children. But the dowry — a coercive demand imposed by the groom’s family on the family of the bride to provide substantial gifts or money to the family of the groom as a condition for marriage — leads to significant financial burdens on many families and pushes them into debt and impoverishment. But forced dowry is more prevalent in countries or communities where women are considered to be financial burdens. Among countries, dowry is definitely a significant problem in several Asian and African countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Kenya.
There are definitely legal, campaign based and other efforts to end dowry. Many countries have enacted laws to prevent dowry. India enacted the Dowry Prohibition Act in 1961 and Bangladesh enacted the Dowry Prohibition Act in 1980 making dowry demands illegal. Among other countries, Pakistan enacted the Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) Act in 1976 prohibiting the giving or taking of dowries exceeding a certain value. Along with governments, various organizations and activists have joined forces to raise awareness about the negative consequences of dowry and advocate for its eradication. Community engagement initiatives, which aim to challenge deep-rooted social norms that perpetuate dowry-related violence and discrimination against women, also exist in many countries. But there are flaws in dowry prevention efforts.
There is definitely a lack of comprehensive legislation, which exclusively addresses dowry-related issues, and stringent legal measures in many countries. Also, there is an inadequate implementation of dowry related laws in many countries including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh driven by several factors including a lack of reporting and societal norms. Definitely, limited awareness campaigns and education programs fail to reach remote areas or marginalized groups where the dowry practice is deeply rooted and educate communities about the harmful consequences of dowry adequately. The lack of comprehensive support systems for victims of dowry violence leads to harmful consequences for many women. Moreover, and importantly, there are also social customs-based, economic and other factors that encourage dowry in many countries.
Dowry is deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and traditions in many countries and is influenced by the social expectation and traditional laws or customs that govern marriage and inheritance. Many families feel compelled to comply with societal expectations and customs —even if they cannot afford it — and provide substantial dowries to secure a desirable match for their daughters and ensure their well-being. The perception of dowry as social status and economics insurance also causes giving and receiving dowry. Dowry payments are often seen as a form of economic insurance in case of marital discord, widowhood or any untoward economic situation in many countries and communities. Among others, poverty and economic disparities or unequal resource distributions contribute to the continuation of dowry.
Even if voluntary presents from the bride’s family are not unacceptable, conditional or forced dowry needs to be ended across the world. But legal reforms and rigorous enforcement mechanisms are crucial to fight dowry. The emphasis needs to be given to address the deep rooted causes of dowry. For this, awareness campaigns are imperative in many countries. Robust support systems for victims of dowry may also be helpful in some countries. But economic development and the desirable distribution of resources are definitely crucial for successfully fighting dowry in many countries in Asia and several other regions. But efforts are needed more in those countries where dowry is often cited as a concern.
