The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN: 2411-0132(E), 2411-5487(P)

Vol-1, Issue (8):276-279
www.theexplorerpak.org

DOWRY AND WOMEN'S STATUS: A PERSPECTIVE OF CONSANUGUINEAL AND AFFINAL

RELATIVES
Sidra, Farwa Razzaq
Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Corresponding Author:
Sidra
PMAS -Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
sid_chaudry88@yahoo.com
Abstract: A dowry is an exchange of property in the form of money, land, vehicle, house or gold between the brides
family and groom. It is one of the leading forms of marital violence, spreading like fire within our cultural web. The
research was conducted to determine the influence of dowry system on rate of marriage, examine the societys point of
view about dowry system and also to explore the immersion of education in the dowry system. The study was
conducted in Gulzar-e-Quaid Rawalpindi. Data of 80 respondents was collected by using purposive sampling with the
help of in depth interviews and case studies. Chi-square analysis suggests that dowry system creates an imbalance
between the status of women who are giving dowry and who are devoid of it. The economic exchange particularly
defines and is proportional to the extent of control, respect and power she will have in the new house. Lack of dowry
often becomes the cause of conflict in the family and still is a decisive factor when it comes to a womans marriage. The
adaptation and prevalence of this system dates back to the pre-partition time and has nothing to do with our religion.
Key word: Dowry, Marriage, Custom, Violence.

INTRODUCTION
Dowry is perceived as the money, gifts, goods, or
estate that a wife will bring with her in exchange to
her marriage with the groom (Nithya 2013). It may
include clothes, gold, car and utensils etc. which
will eventually decide her status among her affinal
relatives. Dowry system is a practice deeply rooted
in our society that has now become a culture. It
refers to a lump sum of money or tangible assets
that constitute an essential part of the wedding and
is transferred to the brides house to be before the
actual solemnization of marriage (Singh 2004).
It was provided to newlyweds to manage their basic
needs but its meaning has completely changed over
the few decades. It can precisely be defined now as
a forced material and financial arrangement which
brides family is obliged to offer to the grooms
family a brides price. It is a key factor defining a
womens status in her in-laws. A statistical analysis
shows that women bringing more dowries are given
more rights than the women who bring fewer
dowries in their marriage (Khan 2010).
The origin and evolution of dowry can be traced
back to Hindu the marital traditions. The ideology
of Stridharma a form of religious non-reciprocal
form of giving from her parents to a girls wedding
is actually behind it (Sumona 2003). This was
considered completely womens property that
might help in time of need. Hindu classical texts

identify it a part of ancient Vedic custom of

Kanyadan (Jananeethi 2011).
The idea of dowry was introduced as female
inheritance in South Asia. The practice has also
been called trousseau and is widely practiced in
Asia, Europe, and Africa for centuries. Its been
symbolized by different names in Asia; Dahaij in
India, Joutuk in Bangladesh, and Jahaiz in
Pakistan (Tambiah 1973).
Dowry system in Pakistan prevails widely. Though
primarily it is an Islamic state it has many of its
cultural values influenced from Hindu culture since
the sub-continent reign. It is also described as
grooms price as it is an arrangement managed in
accordance with the desirable qualities of a groom
by brides parents (Anderson 2000). The convention
of dowry has typically been adopted by complex
societies with considerable socio-economic
disparity and class stratification. In that matter
dowry is simply a competition among women for
desirable, wealthy husbands (Gaulin 1990).
This practice is most common in rural areas in
arranged marriages as a traditional and compulsory
ritual of marriage termed as marriage portion
comprising of moveable or immoveable property
given to the bride (Babur 2007). A broader image of
this practice being common in urban areas and is
becoming a ritual of every marriage. Educated
people defend this act with a philosophy that the
276

property or assets given are only a gift from the

parents of bride. There is a need to understand the
nebulous difference between gifts and dowry
(Oldenburg 2002).
Violence against women in the form of harassment,
abuse, rape, trafficking is a rising trend in all
developing countries since ages. Among all these,
domestic violence has always surpassed the
formers and many forms of this violence have
become a part of the cultures of worlds societies
like dowry. Starting from the transfer of traditional
items; jewels, clothes and other household goods,
the dowry items have now been including modern
consumers items as electric appliances, motor
bikes or cars and even houses as per demands of
girls in-laws or her husband (Beck 1972).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The research was completed in Gulzar-e-Quaid,
Rawalpindi. The qualitative data of 80 respondents
was collected by using purposive sampling through
the help of interviews and case study. Data was
collected descriptively by using Likert scale. The
purpose of the study was to check influences of
dowry system, its consequences and Islamic point
of view as well as involvement of educated people
and illiterate people. Statistical analysis was used to
interpret the data. Chi-square test was used by
taking the level of significance
.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Study of research explores the effect of dowry as
well as its consequences. Objective of this research
to see the involvement of literate and illiterate
people, love and arrange marriages, imbalance in
womens status and Islamic point of view. In the
table S.D. = strongly agree, D = disagree, N =
neutral, A= agree and S.A. = strongly agree. And %
shows percentage.
Table. 1: Do you support Dowry system?

Responses
S.D
D
N
A
S.A
Total

Frequency
47
18
7
5
3
80

Percentage
58.75
22.5
8.75
6.25
3.75
100 %

Table. 2: Do you think Dowry is adopted Culture?

Responses
S.D
D
N
A
S.A
Total

Frequency
7
8
17
26
22
80

Percentage
8.75
10
21.25
32.5
27.5
100 %

Data given in above table 1 clearly defines that

63.75% people who consider it as an evil custom
are not in favour of it and affirmed it to be a serious
cause behind major quarrels, conflicts, domestic
violence and a factor behind divorce. Respondents
viewed that dowry is not an Islamic act but 17.5%
people were in the favour of dowry system. They
thought it as important exchange to safeguard the
future of their children specially daughters.
The data in table 2 shows that nearly 60 % people
considered it is an adopted culture and did not
attach it with any concept in Islam whereas almost
18.75 % disagreed with the statement. It is linked to
Stridharma where people had concept of dowry as
a property of bride after marriage (Sumona 2003).
Table. 3: Dowry is Demanded more in Arranged
Marriages

Responses
Frequency
Percentage
S.D
4
5
D
8
10
N
19
23.75
A
27
33.75
S.A
22
27.5
Total
80
100 %
Marriage should not depend on dowry. There are
respondents who do and dont favour and believe
on the existence of dowry. In Pakistani society, it is
preferred that when a daughter-in-law comes to
the new house after marriage she must bring
dowry, as it will be helpful in taking a new
beginning. In this case she will not have to depend
on her in-laws. People also were of the view that a
girl or bride is respected if she brings a lot dowry.
Bride has good impression as well as hold on rest of
family including husband. Whereas people
opposing dowry believed that dowry is not
important for gaining respect rather it is more
essential to have good habits, be co-operative and
polite. They responded that respect doesnt lay its
roots on dowry. 15% people disagreed that dowry
is more common in arranged marriage then love
marriages whereas 61.25% agreed with the
statement. Statistically it was proved that dowry
was more common in arranged marriage than love
marriage as
and the
.
Dowry is a culturally promoted ritual of marriage
including of portable or immoveable property given
to the bride (Babur 2007).
Table. 4: Dowry is much Common among Educated
People then Illiterate People

Responses
S.D
D
N

Frequency
5
12
11

Percentage
6.25
15
13.75

277

A
31
38.75
S.A
21
26.25
Total
80
100 %
Table 4 clarify that 65% are agree with this
statement that educated people are more involved
in dowry system then illiterate people because their
first preference is to maintain their life style and
status after marriage so they expect to have
enough dowry from bridal family whereas 21.25%
disagreed. Literate people call dowry as gift, it is
their common phenomena which is given to girl
from her parent (Oldenburg2002).Educated people
are well aware of the fact that the custom is a form
domestic violence still they are quiet involved in it.
The researcher statistically checks this statement
that more educated peoples favour dowry at
, the
which proves our
statement that it is more common among educated
peoples.
Table. 5. Dowry is cause of Greed, Quarrels, Conflict
and Divorce?

Responses
Frequency
Percentage
S.D
7
8.75
D
12
15
N
13
16.25
A
26
32.5
S.A
22
27.5
Total
80
100 %
The above table demonstrates that 3.75%
respondents dont favour this statement that dowry
creates greed and violence before and after the
marriage while 60% respondent believe that dowry
is responsible for before and after marriage
violence. The researcher statistically tests the
statement that in peoples opinion dowry creates
greed and violence before and after marriage thus
at
the
, which shows
that approximately equal number of respondent
think that dowry creates greed and violence and
other think against this statement.
People think that those affinal relative who try to
have rich relatives, expect a lot from their
consanguineous relatives. When their expectations
are not fulfilled, they degrade the bride and often
taunt her which becomes a great cause of quarrel
and even leads to divorce. The results show that
she is mentally tortured by her in-laws and
sometimes physically as well. Dowry creates
difficulties in finding appropriate partners, since
people expect to have an ideal girl for who is
educated, beautiful and will bring ample amount of
expensive gifts for in-laws.

Table 6: Dowry creates Imbalance Status amongst

Women

Responses
Frequency
Percentage
S.D
9
11.25
D
13
16.25
N
15
18.75
A
28
35
S.A
15
18.75
Total
80
100 %
Table 6 indicates that 27.5% respondent dont think
that dowry creates imbalance in womens status.
They think women are themselves responsible for
any kind of imbalance due to their attitude. While
53.75 % respondent favour that dowry is
responsible for imbalance in the status of women.
Mostly parents prefer to give their daughters a lot
dowry. The girls, who are endowed with dowry
from consanguineous, usually hold a highest status
in their in laws as compared to those who are not
privilege enough. The chi-square test applied,
suggests that most people think that dowry creates
imbalance in women status at
.
The
. Which justify the hypothesis
that dowry creates imbalance in women status.
Table. 7: Govt. should ban this Evil Custom

Responses
Frequency
Percentage
S.D
9
11.5
D
14
17.5
N
7
8.75
A
36
45
S.A
14
17.5
Total
80
100 %
Table 7 is based on respondents opinion on
Government intervention in cubing this evil. 28.25
% respondents did not favour this statement that
government should ban this custom. They say that
this is not the responsibility of the government.
While 62.5% people agreed with the statement as
due to this tradition life of many women is spoiled.
The custom is responsible for an increase in the
divorce rates hence the government must partake
in eliminating this evil from the society.
CASE STUDY
A respondent named Amina, a 25 years old woman,
belongs to a middle class. She revealed that she
was divorced just because of this wicked custom of
dowry. Her consanguinal family could not fulfil the
dowry expectations of her affinals. As a
consequence to it, after six month of marriage she
was divorced by her husband. Now she live with her
parents, working a full time job trying to earn
enough to save money and fulfil her dream of
getting married again, this time with a huge
amount of dowry to provide in exchange.

278

CONCLUSION
The conclusion of the study is that dowry is leading
cause behind domestic conflicts, violence and
discrimination in marriage. People are not well
aware if the tradition originated from the prepartition time or is an Islamic custom. People of all
types, either educated or not are clutched in the
dowry system. It is equally practised in love and
arranged marriages. Parents believe that girls, who
are endowed with dowry from consanguineous,
usually hold a highest status in their in laws as
compared to those who are not privilege enough.
Similarly affinal relatives also expect that daughter
in law will bring a lot dowry. In the opinion of the
respondents the custom should be banned and the
government should take steps to uproot it.
REFERENCES
Anderson, Siwan
2000 The Economics of Dowry Payments
in Pakistan. University of British Columbia
Centre Working Paper No 82.
Beck, Brenda, E. F.
1972 Peasant Society in Konku: A Study
of Right and Left Sub-castes in South India.
Vancouver: University of British Columbia
Press.

Oldenburg, Veena Talwar

2002 Dowry Murder: The Imperial
Origins of a Cultural Crime. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press.
Singh, J. P.
2004 Problems of India's Changing Family
and State Intervention. India. Department
of Sociology Patna University Bihar.
Tambiah, Stanley J.
1973 Dowry and Bridewealth and the
Property Rights of Women in South Asia. In
Bridewealth and dowry J. Goody and S. J.
Tambiah, eds. Cambridge University Press.
Vohra, Sumona
2003 Practice of Dowry from the Context
of Hinduism. Critical Half: Annual Journal of
Women for Women International 1(1):3235.

2015The Explorer Journal of Social Sciences-Pakistan

Babur, Zaheer udin

2007 Violence Against Women in
Pakistan: Current Realities and Strategies
for Change, European University Center for
Peace Studies Stadtschlaining/Burg, Austria.
Gaulin, Steven J. C. and James S. Boster
1990 Dowry as Female Competition.
American Anthropologist New Series 92(4):
994-1005.
Khan, Tariq Mehmood
2010 Socio-Cultural Determinants of
Womens Empowerment in Punjab.
Department of Rural Sociology, University
of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan.
Nithya, R. N.
2013 Institutionalization of Dowry in
India: Social Custom or Modern Malaise?
International Journal of Science and
Research 2(9): 45-50.

279