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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Dowry and its link to violence against women in India: feminist psychological perspectives.

Dowry is exchanged in a majority of Indian weddings. Although its practice became illegal in 1961, dowry flourishes among all social classes. Families of the bride and groom negotiate transfer of assets to the groom and his family in exchange for marrying the bride, often within the context of an arranged marriage. Dissatisfaction with the amount of dowry may result in abuse of the bride. In extreme cases "dowry deaths" or the murder of the bride by her husband and his family take place. This article conducts a feminist psychological analysis of the dowry phenomenon, its link to domestic violence against women, and the role of the perpetrators. Existing and new explanations of the dowry system and its ramifications are explored. Psychologically based interventions and the implications of dowryrelated violence in the larger context of Asian Indians living in North America and the United Kingdom are discussed.

Cultural Characteristics↗
PubMed2005

Dowry--a deep-rooted cause of violence against women in India.

The world has entered the new millenium but it is a harsh reality that the woman in India has long been ill-treated in our male-dominated society. She is deprived of her independent identity and is looked upon as a commodity. She is not only robbed of her dignity and pride by way of seduction by the men outside, but also may become a victim of cruelty by her saviours, within the four walls of her own house. However, her trauma does not end here, it may even go to the extent of forcing her to commit suicide or she may be burnt to death for various reasons, including that of dowry. This type of violence transgresses the boundaries of caste, class, region or religion and is prevalent in almost all societies in India. The system of dowry is a social practice which on its own has claimed the lives of scores of women--both young and old, and has made life a virtual hell for many more. Unfortunately, education among women has not produced a reformative effect on their social outlook, nor encouraged any change in them conducive to social upliftment. Those parents who prefer not to take dowry for their well-qualified and settled male children, are in fact considered 'strange' by the society and doubts about 'the respectability of the groom's family' are usually raised. The present study makes an in-depth review of the dowry system in India and analyses the reasons which have demonized dowry into its present commercialized and institutionalized form.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Dowry death: implications of law.

The giving of dowry on marriage is a widespread custom in India, but the attitude of society towards this practice is neither uniform nor consistent. 'Dowry death' is the result of a unique form of violence suffered by Indian women. The existing legal provisions relating to dowry and dowry deaths are summarized, and the role of the Indian Penal Code is discussed. Case reports are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Alleged dowry death: a study of homicidal burns.

Homicidal burning of married women in India is a major concern for the Government, law-enforcing authorities, the judiciary, the police and medico-legal experts all over the country who are associated with dowry disputes. Dowry death, a heinous crime, is gradually engulfing and polluting the entire society. Sections 304(B) and 498(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been introduced and Sections 174 Criminal Procedure Code (Cr PC) and 176 Cr PC have been modified but, instead of deterring dowry deaths, the occurrences are increasing day by day and the number of cases coming for post-mortem examination is rising. Both parties, that is, the parents and in-laws of the deceased, are becoming adept at manufacturing circumstantial evidence to serve their own interests. Therefore, to establish the truth and for the smooth administration of justice, reliable unbiased medical evidence has to be corroborated. This study presents retrospective research carried out in the tertiary care teaching hospital of MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, Eastern India, for a five-year period between January 1998 to December 2002. From a total of 58 burned wives, 32 (55.1%) were homicidal burns. These cases were analyzed in view of epidemiological and medico-legal aspects. The majority of the affected women (90.63%) were in the 18 to 26 years of age group. Death occurred within the first few years of marriage and most of them had no children. All the victims belonged to the Hindu religion and 62.5% of incidents occurred during the daytime. In 71.87% cases the incident occurred in rural areas. Eighty-three per cent of cases occurred in a joint family within the house. In most cases, kerosene was the accelerant and flame was the causative agent. In more than 68.75% of cases the total body surface area involved was more than 80%. Most victims died at the time of the incident, or within the subsequent 24 hours, due to hypovolumeic shock. The education status in 70.21% cases was either illiterate or under matriculation. More stringent laws and female independence both mentally and economically will reduce the homicidal burns in young brides.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Dowry cannibalism.

The term dowry cannibalism is used in this article to describe a unique case where the motive for cannibalism was the non-fulfilment of a husband's dowry demands from his wife. The husband was accused by the wife of regularly using a syringe to withdraw blood from her, with the intent of causing her death, and drinking it. Intriguing as this is, it is also medicolegally important: this method of killing might leave no trace suggesting murder. It is postulated that this form of abuse may also significantly alter the psychological state of the victim and hasten death. The case is not yet concluded, and may never be, thus details to allow identification have been omitted from the report.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Forensic examinations in two cases of alleged dowry deaths.

Two cases of alleged dowry deaths are presented from Haryana State, India. In each case a young lady died after receiving burn injuries. Forensic examination unveiled the mysteries of both deaths and helped in apprehending and prosecuting the culprits. Case 1, allegedly a dowry death, proved to be an accidental burning and Case 2, stated to be a suicidal death, was proved to be homicidal.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Dowry Prohibition (Maintenance of Lists of Presents to the Bride and Bridegroom) Rules, 1985, 11 August 1985.

These Rules are made under Section 9 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, of India and provide, among other things, that the list of presents given to either the bride or bridegroom is to be prepared as soon as possible after the marriage; is to be in writing; is to contain a brief description of each gift, including value, name of the person presenting it, and how the person presenting it is related to either spouse; and is to be signed by both spouses.

Asia↗
PubMed2004

Poisoning deaths in married women.

Unnatural deaths of married women amongst the total female deaths have been an increasing trend in Indian society during the recent past years. These unnatural deaths may be suicide, homicide or even accidents. But these suicides and homicides are currently more commonly associated with the dowry disputes. In India, dowries are a continuing series of gifts endowed before and after the marriage. When dowry expectations are not met, the young bride may be killed or compelled to commit suicide, either by burning, poisoning or by some other means. Here, in the study, the main objective is to present the different epidemiological and medicolegal aspects of poisoning deaths in the married women. In a cohort of 200 married female deaths, 35 (18%) were poisoning deaths and these were analyzed from both epidemiological and medicolegal aspects. In this series, most of the women consumed organophosphorus compound and died within 10 days. The majority of the affected wives due to dowry problems were below 35 years of age. Most incidents occurred either during morning hour or during daytime.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Epidemics in Renaissance Florence.

Epidemics and mortality in 15th and 16th century Florence, Italy, were investigated by use of records of the government-sponsored Dowry Fund. These records contain the date of birth, date of investment, and date of dowry payment or death of 19,000 girls and women. Major epidemics ("plagues") occurred repeatedly. The most severe were in 1430, 1437-38, 1449-50, 1478-79, and 1527-31. Annual death rates of girls enrolled in the Dowry Fund increased by 5 to 10 times in each of these periods. During the last period, at least 20-25 per cent of the population of Florence is likely to have died. Recurrent epidemics accounted for 38 per cent of the total mortality experienced by girls enrolled in the Dowry Fund. The frequency of serious epidemics diminished with the passage of time, and overall mortality declined by about 10 per cent over the 15th and 16th centuries. Epidermic mortality was not consistently related to age. The effects of epidemics were most severe in the summer and autumn. Non-epidemic mortality was also greater in the summer and autumn than in the winter and spring.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Rezaul Karim v. Mst. Taslima Begum, 3 May 1987.

The petitioner had been arrested under the Bangladesh Dowry Prohibition Act, 1980, after he refused to take Mst. Taslima Begum, whom he had married under Moslem shariat, to his home unless her family paid him Tk. 10,000 in return. At the beginning of the marriage, Mst. Taslima Begum had lived at the home of her father and was visited there often by the petitioner as husband, with the result that she conceived and gave birth to a child. The petitioner demanded that the proceeding be quashed, arguing that the demand for money did not come within the definition of dowry under the Act, that is, demanding money in consideration for marriage. The Court disagreed, holding that the demand for money by a husband after marriage in exchange for giving the wife the status of a wife, maintaining and supporting her as a wife, and providing her with shelter as a wife amounts to a demand for dowry.

Asia↗
PubMed1987

Joint Women's Programme v. State of Rajasthan, 24 March 1987.

By means of this decision, the Supreme Court of India directed the states of Rajasthan and Haryana to proceed with the investigation of two so-called dowry deaths. The decision also directed the two states to create Special Dowry Cells at the state level to investigate dowry deaths through special investigative units and authorized the ministry dealing with social welfare and women's problems to designate one or two leading women social workers to be associated with the Cells.

Asia↗