A Study on the Dowry System and Its Societal Impact in Pakistan

This research report examines the pervasive dowry system in Pakistan, focusing on its adverse impacts on women and society. The study investigates the influence of dowry, favoritism, and the involvement of individuals across different demographics. It reveals that dowry contributes to gender inequality, causing mental and physical harm, and fuels societal greed and conflict. Using a simple random sampling technique and questionnaires, the study found that although most women are involved in the dowry system, a majority of respondents oppose it. The report discusses the negative effects, including domestic violence and financial burdens, while also exploring the role of media and education in mitigating the practice. The literature review highlights the historical context and the increasing trend of dowry as a display of wealth, leading to various social issues. The report suggests measures like education, awareness campaigns, and stricter laws to eradicate the dowry system and promote gender equality. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for societal change and the importance of respecting women to foster a thriving community.

Dowry culture Pakistan
Submitted by:
Muhammad Ahmad
Afan-ul-haq
Ibraheem Khan
Zain Islam Malik
Husnain Mehdi
Academic Writing
Lahore School of Economics
Submitted to:

Ma’am Rameeza Aslam. 2nd MAY,
2021
Abstract
The evil of the dowry system and its effect on Pakistani society are discussed in this research
paper. The aim of this study was to prove the influence, favoritism, and involvement of people in
the Dowry system. This study discovered that dowry causes an inequality in women's status and
has a mental and physical impact on them. Dowry is also a catalyst for societal greed and
conflict. The majority of women, whether educated or illiterate, are involved in the dowry
system. However, the majority of respondents are opposed to the scheme. This study was carried
out using a simple random sampling technique and a questionnaire as a data collection tool.
Furthermore, reliability analysis was used to evaluate the scale's reliability, and chi-square was
used to check the relationship between demographics and research questions. The findings were
discussed in the context of Pakistani culture.
Acknowledgment
We have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many individuals and social sites. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to
all of them. I would like to express my gratitude towards my friends and our instructor Mam
Rameeza Aslam for her guidance and for being and exceptional mentor and a teacher throughout
this whole process. I would like to like to express my special gratitude and thank to social media
and Whatsapp groups for giving us such attention and time. Furthermore, our team is great full

for all our 62 respondents, who answered our survey questions because the data they provided
helped us to come to many conclusions. Our team would specially like to thank Mehrunnisa
Akmal (a women right activist) from Asro Foundation. My thanks and appreciation also goes to
my college for developing the project and people who have willingly helped me with my
abilities.
Introduction
Dowry is an act which is usually performed mostly in every marriage taking place especially in
subcontinent; gifts are given by the bride’s family to groom and his family. Tough it may seem
harm less, this exercise leaves a lot of effects on our society. This practice is rooted in our
country and culture. Pakistan is one of the countries in which dowry is given in every class.
Dowry system was majorly introduced by Indian culture and as Pakistan is derived from sub-
continent so many things in both countries are similar. Parents give their daughter’s gift so they
can stay happy in new home and there be good relationships between the two sides. And groom’s
side will accept whatever they give as a gift happily by their heart. Soon it became a trend. And
this trend turned into an indispensable part of culture. A part which has pressurized the bride’s
start, and formed a fear of marriage from girl’s side. It leaves them thinking dowry is saving
them from this unjust society yet it is just adding is negative affects day by day. Dowry haven’t
only lead to neglected girl’s status overall in a society.
Dowry has both domestic and socio-economic effects. Through the data collected while
performing this research, we find out that there are both positive and negative effects. However,
the negative effects clearly balance out the positive ones. The negative effects include domestic
violence, heavy financial burden on the family giving dowry, gender discrimination, infanticide,

women not being able to earn, gender discrimination in the economic world and many others.
The report discusses all these matters in depth.
The role of media has affected this dowry in both ways, negatively and positively. It has also
helped NGOs In their work so people can have more knowledge about dowry. But as media
exploits some of the cases which lead to negligence of the rightful cases. Media has helped and
even worsened this case of dowry. Media has helped to educate more people about dowry
causing an evil effect on our society, and pressurizing parents in every area around Pakistan. We
have also talked about that steps can be taken to remove its roots in our society. Education helps
a lot in this case, this responsibility should be handed over to media without them exploiting
their rights. Educating groom and bride’s parents to eradicate this worm from our soil. Educating
girls, and teaching to be independent, educated, carrier oriented will also would help putting a
full stop to dowry.
Literature review
In traditional societies across the world, a transfer of money or goods is made when a marriage
initiates. These transfers are made by the bride and her family to the groom and his family. This
transfer is classified as dowry (Makino, 2019). Dowry is no longer a set of gift items intended for
contributing towards a suitable beginning of the practical life of a newly married couple.
Copious and loud marriages, designers‟ items studded bride, bridegroom and other family
members, many course meals etc. all put up with the dowry system .In a country where an
immense majority of populace lives beneath poverty line and is devoid of basic human
requirements like water, sanitation, and electricity, health and education the increasing leaning of
such exhibiting marriages is adding miseries in society. (Nauman, 2012). Dowry is a actual

burden on the bride’s parents causing them to be filled with continuous loan, and the brides
which belong from the lower middle class. At time brothers and parents both work hard and ask
people for loan which they know they won’t be able to take off, but they want to get their sister
married at the demand of dowry only. If they don’t ask for loans fulfill the demand of dowry
there are negative problems for the daughter, and after sometime she might start blaming her
parents. For those parents who have 4-5 daughters do not know where to go they don’t know
what to do all they can do is working double or even triple shifts fulfilling the expenses getting
an hour or less of sleep for months or years. (Ali, 2013) It is a discrimination act which is done
against all the unmarried girls, whose value is mostly defined by the amount of dowry they carry
on their shoulders. Thanks to this discrimination, when a daughter is born in this country people
cry instead of being happy. She is unprivileged from the basic rights such as education, freedom,
speech. . It is considered to be a gift so the husband can refrain from divorces, and abuses. If he
does so the gifts should be returned with her wife to her parents. Land and many other gifts are
used by her husband he can use and make more profit during marriage. (Nauman, 2012). The
dowry amount seems to be increasing over time, because dowry is also becoming as an act to
showoff, it means usually the groom side or the bride’s side tells their relative that they have
either given or received loads of gifts in dowry and because of this showoff, the dowry trend is
booming. Instead, colleagues, friends and families be proud and brag about dowry given or
received in front of each other. In this run they are forgetting now everyone can afford enormous
gifts, leading to further problems. This jealousy has also led for parents to demand dowry so they
can be proud that their son’s wife brought this car with her so they cannot be ashamed while
sitting in gatherings. (Goody, (1973)) It can be claimed that larger dowry size leads to a decrease
in marital violence because it increases the economic resources of the marital family, increases

the social status of the groom and the in-laws, and it serves as an asset because of which the
bride is able to have relatively more control in the intra-household resources. Brides who are
gifted a generous amount of dowry from there family may benefit. However, this leads to a trend
in high dowry expectations and which may cause a chain of events or may lead to problems such
as sex selective abortion and female infanticide. (Srinivasan, 2007). Dowry is associated with
violence against women. It forces parents to invest in female education. In worse cases leads to
female child murder. Social status kept in mind while marrying in greed for more dowry. A rich
brides father will prefer a rich guy for her daughter. Dowry can be controlled in response to
economic forces, and the early stages of evolution invariably result in dowry that are harmful to
women. Parents should be allowed to invest in their daughters' intellectual resources rather than
accepting those fees. Governments can support initiatives that empower women, such as female
education subsidies, targeted job opportunities, and micro credit schemes. Marriage subsidies
will be phased out until women have more equitable economic opportunity than men. (Anderson,
2014) Dowry has led to loss of the value of the concept of marriage. Which were sacrament at a
time were now simple business deals. Dowry related death has been a very old problem, were in
present before partition of the subcontinent. According to figures given in lok Sabha 1989,
indicate that there is 65% increase in dowry related deaths. Criminals like these have not yet
received any kind of social condemnation or retribution. (Makino, 2019). In our society, the
giving and demanding of dowry has been widely spread. This is not an issue that people are
facing today; rather, it has been affecting people for centuries. So we have come up with the
steps which if followed, can finish the practice of dowry. We need to educate our daughters, and
let them be busy in their education career. This will help them to stay away from the stress by the
topic of dowry being discussed in their surroundings. Education will help them to get awareness

and they can refuse to marry dowry seekers. Discrimination between boys and girls should be
stopped so that girls can get their education equally as boys get in our society. When girls are
more focused on their education or career, they are well aware of their rights. Hence, they can
raise their voices against dowry, for this girls should be independent and bold enough so they can
refuse to marry dowry seekers. And this all can be only achieved when they will get an
awareness through education. (Rakshinda, 2011) Marriage marks the start of a new period in a
person's life, and we should begin this phase without placing undue strain on the parents of
young women. Marriage is a social contract in which greed and selfishness should not be
present. Both parties must respect the rights of the other and start this new journey with love and
sincerity. Don't ask the other person for anything you don't want for yourself. (Mahanaz, 2013) A
society which cannot respect its women, cannot grow. We should uproot this bad custom by
imposing strict laws and public awareness. Boys should also be more focused on their education
and career as they also play a vital role in eradicating this system. As they should be courageous
enough to oppose this inhumane practice. Inequality caused by dowry will be put to a stop when
society will stop the discrimination between both genders. If they will provide the girls with
education equally as they give to their boys. Starting a campaign to put a complete ban on dowry
by famous people such as bloggers and celebrities can play a very vital role in our society. As
public awareness is the main tool and it can be raised through different mediums. Furthermore,
child marriages would not take place as more girls and boys will be willing to focus on their
education or career instead of marriages only if they will get an awareness. (Mahanaz, 2013)
Dowry is still a traditionally sanctioned and socially organized tradition in India, despite its legal
prohibition. Not only the husband, but also his family members participate in the victimization of
the woman in dowry-related abuse. This research is focused on a content review of newspapers

to learn about the public's views of dowry-related crimes against women. The paper investigates
the disadvantages. In almost all the cases, the victimized woman is young, not highly educated,
and dependent. The incidents are mostly confined to the early years of marriage and the victim's
husband tends to be the main tormentor. The paper concludes that in more than 80% of the cases,
the outcome is the wife’s death, preceded by physical and mental torture. ( (Prasad, 1994).
Disputes over the dowry lead to "dowry killings," in which wives are burned alive by their
husband's ancestors, according to the press. As a result, "dowry" violence does not specifically
affect marriage-related expenses made at the time of the nuptials, but rather supplementary
payments requested by the groom's family after the marriage, in which the husband continuously
abuses the wife in order to extort money. (Bloch, 2002)
Research Questions
Primary Question
What are the consequences of ongoing practice of dowry system in Pakistan?
Subsidiary Questions
1. What are the reasons behind the tradition of giving and demanding dowry?
2. What are the different ways in which the people practice dowry?
3. How people get affected domestically in the society?
4. What are socio-economic effects of this practice?
5. What is the role of media to stop the evil of dowry?
6. Which steps can be taken to eradicate this social norm?

Methodology
The following are the goals of this study: Determine the extent to which the dowry system
affects our society. To investigate societal perspectives on the dowry system? To see if there is a
way to control the dowry system's evil. To determine how many people support this system and
how many oppose it. To investigate why educated people continue to engage in this heinous
activity. Considering the fact that our target audience is the random public and it is too immense
to possibly reach out to, we will be sampling a limited number of population. Our research tools
consisted of three major elements; interview, questionnaires and case study. All being the
primary and secondary form of research. To present and analyze critical figures, we made use of
statistical charts i.e. bar charts and graphs, which are outcome of our survey questions we
proposed to people in the form of Google forms. We had found out a large number of variation
between the answers. This can be mainly seen because random people with different age groups
and living standards were targeted, so we can have a better quality result to understand what each
class and age members think about the practice of dowry. Such charts help understand large
amounts of data in a shorter period of time and grant a deeper understanding of what the
gathered data amounts to. Due to corona virus we were unable to conduct a physical interview,
so we had a zoom meeting with a person in the Ngo, and the interview questioned which are
proposed below were sent to here and were answered by here in a very precise manner. Next we
found out data from extracts and articles. This prove to be a great way of especially rechecking

the validity of our data and most of our results were alike. Furthermore articles proved to be a
great way to learn new things and explore new things
Analysis of Data and Discussion
Q1.What are the reasons behind the tradition of giving and demanding dowry? Q2.
Explain the ways in which dowry is practiced?
(Muhammad Ahmad)
Description and History of Dowry
Marriage hold a very important role in every other person’s life, as it is considered to be
changing point in anyone’s life. But even before the marriage every other person in our country
is facing the problem of dowry. If we look closely into the history either it ancient Babylon or
ancient history dowry is there and practiced, which stated that husband had right over her wife’s
dowry excluding the property she was given for herself. Even in the roman history dowry existed
and was given to help cover the cost of new household. Dowry, is a practice that is deeply rooted
in our country; when money, good and estate that a girl brings along herself in a marriage, is
known as dowry.
Different religions on Dowry
Islam is the religion which is mostly followed in Pakistan, according to this religion the dowry is
not given from the bride’s side instead it is give by the groom to the bride to secure her financial
state, it can be money or property which is given there can be a mark of respect, and it is the

fundamental right; the amount can be deiced and negotiated between the two families. Where as
on the other hand the other religions which are practiced in Pakistan are Hinduism and
Christianity, it is the opposite Hinduism gave this idea and which was later on adopted by the
Christans that the bride’s parent should give dowry. Dowry tradition has developed over time,
the girl’s in laws expect the bride to bring along things which are worth a lot of money, so she
can help her husband and family. This practice is not only grown over years in Pakistan it has
spread in Europe, South Asia, Africa and many other parts of world. In many countries like
Pakistan, which are poor and struggling states in which basic necessities are filled with many
difficulties, in a country like this people have to struggle with giving dowry to their daughter
thinking they are securing a good future for their daughters.
Dowry and Affect
It is a discrimination act which is done against all the unmarried girls, whose value is mostly
defined by the amount of dowry they carry on their shoulders. Thanks to this discrimination,
when a daughter is born in this country people cry instead of being happy. She is unprivileged
from the basic rights such as education, freedom, speech. Female with no economic support she
exits at the assistance of her groom. Parents are depressed , and believe this to be a curse instead
of a blessing. Even educated families start saving up for their daughters’ marriage because of the
culture and the air which is created in this society. One of the reasons of giving dowry is a
protection of the wife, against her husband and his family. It is considered to be a gift so the
husband can refrain from divorces, and abuses. If he does so the gifts should be returned with her
wife to her parents. Land and many other gifts are used by her husband he can use and make
more profit during marriage. Dowry is usually promoted in young couples, to help them
financially so they can establish a household, otherwise without dowry it would have been

difficult from them to settle down. Dowry is also provided so incase of husband’s death and
there is problem of inheritance dowry can be used for her to survive. Dowry is also given to
compensate groom’s kin for the expenses occurred, to maintain friendship between two families.
But this is not always the case usually dowry is also demanded by the in laws, they ask for dowry
in rural areas where there is lack of education and respect; so before their marriage usually the
groom’s side set demands such as they want bikes or some part of land in marriage. In developed
area dowry is not asked, it is considered obligatory by the bride’s side, and it is given as a token
of love from bride’s side and to raise her status in the family. It is often thought more the dowry
more the respect is gained by bride in her in laws. Despite all the allegations received on dowry
and is also banned in some parts of the world. It is still demanded and given.
Dowry in a Society
The dowry amount seems to be increasing over time, because dowry is also becoming as an act
to showoff, it means usually the groom side or the bride’s side tells their relative that they have
either given or received loads of gifts in dowry and because of this showoff, the dowry trend is
booming. People are in run of competing each other in this world and now even in dowry they
are not ready to put a full stop to this chapter. Instead colleagues, friends and families be proud
and brag about dowry given or received in front of each other. In this run they are forgetting now
everyone can afford enormous gifts, leading to further problems. Dowry is a competition which
is present amongst two house wives present in one house. Comparing with each other and
coitizing each other’s gifts. This jealousy has also led for parents to demand dowry so they can
be proud that their son’s wife brought this car with her so they can not be ashamed while sitting
in gatherings. By any of point of view jealousy is not a healthy feeling. It leads people to guilt
traps and fights. Dowry has been boosted by our culture, by our people and by the lack of