[The Impact of Class Background On South Asian Marriages: A Study Of Dowry Practices]

Abstract

As economic growth and development occurs in South Asia, it has been thought that dowry would decline as an institution. However, the practice of dowry has rapidly spread to regions in India where previously it was not extensively practiced and dowry inflation may be occurring. In this paper, a simple analytical model of dowry, based upon caste determined status differentials, is developed. The model assumes that some inter-caste marriage occurs. The implications of the model are that gross dowry inflation is fueled by economic growth, but net dowry remains unchanged. More importantly, unequal growth stimulates an expansion of the practice of dowry to lower castes.

Table of Content

Chapter One: Introduction4

Hypotheses6

Chapter 2: Literature Review9

Dowry and property, dowry and prestige12

Trust and distrust14

Origin of Dowry System: A Historical Perspective17

Current Practices and their Impact18

Perpetuation of the Dowry System20

Sociocultural Factors and Gender Discrimination20

Religious Factors22

Economic Factors22

Chapter 3: Methodology24

The Sample24

Measures25

Dowry attitudes25

Tradition25

Modernization26

Self-interest26

References27

Chapter One: Introduction

The practice of dowry, prevalent in much of South Asia, is a payment made by the parents of the bride to the groom's family at the time of marriage. One would think that economic growth and development would lead to a decline in the practice of dowry. However, the evidence that is available points to dowry inflation and dowry related domestic violence being on the rise in India. Real dowry payments have been found to be rising across South Asia for the last four decades. In addition, the practice of dowry has spread geographically and socially into other regions of India where it was not extensively practiced earlier.

Moreover, the worst form of dowry related violence, dowry deaths, has also been on the rise. ''During 1999-2003 the National Crime Records Bureau of the government of India reported approximately 6000-7000 dowry related deaths every year and about 43,000-50,000 cases of mental and physical torture''. There is also some empirical evidence that indicates that dowry inflation (and whether or not it occurs) is dependent upon how dowry is defined. Edlund (2006, 542) distinguishes between gross and net dowry. Gross dowry represents the assets the bride brings at the time of marriage while net dowry is gross dowry minus any groom payments. Empirical estimations indicate no inflation in net dowry, while gross dowries have indeed risen steeply.

Finally, Dalmia and Lawrence (2005, 71) actually find some evidence of dowry deflation. Much of the literature on this topic ignores the role of caste and the possibility of inter-caste marriages. Caste implies that there is a social status attached to various social levels and that if one can move from a lower to higher level (caste), social status will be gained. Typically one's social status or caste is determined by birth. However, unlike men, women have an opportunity to change their caste status. Thus, when a lower caste bride marries into a higher caste, she and her children are inducted into the groom's caste. Similarly, if a bride from a higher caste marries a groom from a lower caste, ...