Impact of dowry system & the laws against it

The dowry tradition is completely misogynistic. At some point, the dowry became a status symbol and the price he had to pay to marry his daughter: the more educated the groom, the higher the dowry. It also turned out to be a means of climbing the class ladder, a setup called hypergamy. To do. Belonging to a higher social class and caste brings acceptance in society. Therefore, marrying a lower caste woman was itself a boon for her and her family. Hypergamy is therefore demanding a lot from her bride's family as well.

There are several impacts of dowry system in the society. Some of them are:

Female foeticide/Infanticide

There is a price to having a girl. The dowry system gripped society with unbreakable power. It is easier to obey him than to resist. For many parents who don't know dowry laws or simply don't have enough privilege to act, it seems fairer to kill a daughter than to spend her life earning a dowry that isn't enough to marry her off. "Prestigious" family.

Illiteracy

Unreasonable pressure associated with the accumulation of a "dowry" leads to the fact that parents stop sending girls to school. When her ultimate goal is to get married, they are more comfortable marrying her by simply teaching her the role of her "housewife" than "spending" some money on her education. This contributes to illiteracy. This contributes to the spread of ignorance about dowry and dowry-related laws, which in turn does not contribute to or at least stop dowry-related crimes.

Bankruptcy

The size of the dowry demanded by the groom is directly proportional to the groom's academic qualifications, the family's wealth, his "beauty" and caste. It is also directly proportional to how "dark" the bride is, whether she can speak English, and how educated she is. These categories vary from family to family. Some prefer an uneducated bride who can handle the chores and will "take on more" if the bride is educated.

Also, this dowry is inextricably linked with the social status of the bride's family. Firstly, it is believed that the size of the dowry is directly proportional to the position in the family to which the girl belongs. Second, if the dowry is not paid, the groom or his family can cancel the wedding. thus tarnishing the reputation of the bride's family. So, to fit the first scenario and avoid the second, the bride's father thinks it's fairer to go bankrupt than risk the marriage.

Domestic violence and Dowry murder

It is clear that the dowry system exposes women and their relatives to torture. There were 7.1 million reported dowry deaths in 2019, down from 8.5 million in 2014. But it clearly shows gluttony and context.

It is difficult to count the exact number of victims of dowry violence because most of them are victims of dowry murder at the hands of relatives, such as sacrifice or starvation. husband and/or his family in addition to psychological torture. Fear of reprisal from the husband's relatives if the victim intercedes on his behalf is the main reason deaths or dowry abuse go unreported.

Abetment to suicide

Continuing abuse by the husband and his family with threats of harm could lead to a woman committing suicide. In such situations, the dowry crime even extends to abetment of suicide, which includes all acts and attempts to intentionally advise, encourage, or assist in committing suicide. The impact of dowry can leave a woman helpless and desperate, which can cumulate in emotional trauma and abuse. Dowry related abuse causes emotional trauma, depression and suicide.The offence of abetment to suicide is significant because in many cases, the accused persons often bring up a defence that the victim committed suicide at her own volition, even though this may not be true in reality.

Fraud

The 2005 Canadian documentary Runaway Suitors exposed the phenomenon of Indian-Canadian men using the dowry system. These men went back to India in a scam, ostensibly to find her a new bride, but abandoned the woman as soon as they received her dowry and returned to Canada without her.

Law related to dowry in India

In the second half of the 20th century, the number of dowry-related crimes increased significantly. Certain laws have been adopted in this regard:

1. The Dowry Prohibition Act,1961

A dowry is defined as any property or provision of value that has been given or agreed to be given, directly or indirectly, by one party to a marriage to the other, or by either party's parent or other person. parties in accordance with the law. This law aims to prohibit the giving or receiving of dowries.

2. Section 498A of the Indian penal code,1860

This section deals with violence against women after marriage by the mother-in-law's family, the mother-in-law's parents or the husband's relatives. This section redefines brutality. In addition, the provision stipulates a fine of up to three years.

3. Section 304B of the Indian penal code,1860

This section defines dowry death. This provision stipulates that if a woman dies from burns or bodily harm within seven years of her marriage, or it is found that she suffered brutal abuse or harassment by her husband or someone else on her before marriage, the husband's relatives, and therefore the woman, shall be liable with respect to her dowry claim. Death is considered the death of a dowry.

Even after decades of passing numerous laws banning dowries and protecting women, change is limited to urbanites and educated people in the first-class cities. The dowry is such an integral part of our culture that it is very difficult to convince most people otherwise. Dowry is celebrated as a social norm rather than ridiculed as a social evil. It's time to create a safer environment for women. Demand for dowries has increased as the pandemic continues and unemployment rises. In fact, the wife's relatives are looking for an additional dowry even in the 10th year of marriage. In a pseudo-progressive society, it is important to recognise and acknowledge the problem and then inform women and their families of their legal rights. It is very important that the dowry narrative changes and that public opinion opposes these practices.