Dowry is a gift of money, property, or assets given by a woman to her husband upon marriage. It was historically used to provide a woman with a portion of her family’s wealth and protect her from abuse. However, it became a burden on poorer families and undermined the treatment of women. Although it is now an obsolete practice for most cultures, some countries still practice it, such as India, where it is prohibited but still occurs. The advancement of probate laws and women’s rights rendered the custom obsolete.
A dowry is money, property, or assets that a woman gives her husband as a gift upon marriage. The practice, also known as kitting, is a custom that has been around for centuries and was most commonly practiced in Europe, Asia and Africa. Modern times have seen this practice fall by the wayside due to the abuses suffered by women due to the misuse of the practice.
Historically speaking, a dowry was a way of providing a woman with a portion of her family’s wealth, to which she would not otherwise be entitled by inheritance. Also, it was believed to be the best way to protect a woman from abuse or mistreatment by her husband. The gift was matched with the bride price, which was an amount of money or property that the groom would pay to the bride’s family in exchange for her marrying him.
Although the dowry became the husband’s property, the woman would inherit it if she were widowed. If the woman dies, her money or property, less the cost of the bride price, would be inherited by her natural children.
What began as a custom to protect and provide for a young woman also became a burden on poorer families, as they could not afford to give what a suitable husband or his family could ask. The practice began to undermine the treatment of women as well. Although dowry is now an obsolete practice for most cultures, some countries have carried the custom into modern times.
India is an example of a country with dowry customs in modern times, although many of the laws related to it have been changed and, since 1961, its use is prohibited, although not unheard of. This prohibition arose in large part from human rights movements protesting the high death rate among young married women as the practice of killing them for money or property is believed to have often been carried out by husbands or their families.
The advancement of probate laws and women’s rights rendered the custom obsolete. Women in most cultures can now inherit and own property and/or money. Additionally, prenuptial agreements, where permitted, can protect a woman’s property from becoming marital or joint property.
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