A dowry is a transfer of parental property at the marriage of a daughter. It includes furniture, linen, money etc. Dowry contrasts with the related concept of bride price. It is the wealth transferred from the bride’s family to the groom or his family. Bride price or bride service is a payment by the groom or his family to the bride’s parents. Disputes related to dowry sometimes result in acts of violence against the women including killing and acid attacks.
The concept of dowry was common in Europe until the 19th century and is still important in Islamic world. Pakistan adopted the dowry system from Indian culture. In recent years, there has been an increased in the value of dowries in Pakistan.
The upper class of our society gives dowry according to their own status. They provide the things from basic needs to the things which come in luxuries including luxury cars, luxury bungalows. They show off to the people. The class of poor people they are being grinded in the competition of dowry. They did not marry their daughter.
Dowry is a social evil which has affected our society very badly. It has caused too much destruction to the socio-economic structure. The dowry system has given birth too many evils. It will draw many girls to suicide to save their parents from economic drudgery.
In many families, the birth of a daughter was regarded as a curse and there was a case when daughters born in the family were put to death. The boy accepts that girl who belongs to a well-off family, highly educated in service and earns. He also wants a girl whose parents can give much dowry at the time of marriage. The system of dowry in our society is an act of discrimination against unmarried girls whose values are defined based on their respective dowries. The cases in Pakistan are high due to the concept of dowry.
When the engagement is broken due to the dowry the girl begins to live in the society with a sense of insecurity develops an inferiority complex and remains emotionally suppressed. She feels herself to be a burden on her parents. So she suicide herself. She becomes depressed. Due to fewer dowries the in-laws tortured the girl, they abused, insults and passed the sarcastic remarks.
At the end, I want to give suggestions that a dowry is a very bad thing and should be banned in all countries. Banning this tradition leads to happier life because it is a source of stress among parents of girls. There should be proper rules and laws about a dowry. Proper steps should be taken to reduce this harmful disease in society. Dowry is becoming a convention in civilization gradually. Thus, parents have to stop demanding dowry. NGOS should be there and make honest efforts to curtail this practice.
