Eradicate Dowry, Eliminate Dowry Violence

Considering the current practices and the violent mechanisms through which the discriminatory practice of dowry operates, this work contends that more than a social or moral evil, dowry, as it is practiced today, critically involves gruesome economic violence, including extortion, blackmail, and brutal exploitation of women and their families, besides physical and other forms of violence that at times lead to their murder or compel women to commit suicide.<br><br>Moreover, the scope of the practice of dowry is being widened to include not only the demands for cash and valuables but also the large expenditures incurred in organizing the `big, fat, lavish wedding’. These expenses in no way add to the bride’s wealth or her stridhan or support brides in cases of emergency or otherwise. The way dowry is practiced in contemporary times involves the triad of oppression consisting of compulsive, arbitrary dowry demands, coercion, and dowry-related violence, all of which began before or at the time of marriage and continued thereafter and therefore need to be dealt with accordingly. The laws that prohibit and criminalize dowry have dismally failed to deter or stop terrible crimes. Besides, the current legal framework pertaining to dowry blatantly ignores the critical elements of coercion, extortion, blackmail, and ruthless exploitation of women and therefore, the need is to rethink the socio-legal discourse surrounding dowry in India. What is required is a pro-active feminist approach, globally as well as nationally, which includes the inter-country and intra-country coordination and above all a commitment by the state governments at the national as well as the international level to prevent violence, to protect women and children and to provide immediate relief and justice to those affected. Rather an international consortium may be established to specifically address such issues pertaining to women and children is essential.