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Dowry’s impact on women 

Published : Tuesday, 3 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 386
Saiful Islam Pias
In Bangladesh, the dowry system is still a major socioeconomic problem that mostly affects rural women. In accordance with Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, dowry refers to any material, financial, or other property that is promised or delivered during a marriage. This practice hinders the growth of the country and has led to worrying levels of violence against women. Women, who make up over half of Bangladesh's population, have a big say in how far the country goes. However, it is difficult to comprehend the significance of dowry traditions due to widespread poverty and illiteracy.

Due to the dowry system's preference for dowry over education, gender inequality is made worse. Because they believe that dowry is essential to family stability and prestige, parents frequently prioritize dowry above their daughters' education. Many females are prevented from making meaningful contributions to the advancement of society by this practice.

Encouraging women to pursue higher education is essential to overturning the dowry system. Women who have an education not only become more powerful, but they also acquire the information and abilities needed to oppose discriminatory behaviors and stand up for their rights. Enhancing girls' and women's access to education in rural regions should be the main goal of government programs and non-governmental organizations.

Reducing the need on dowries as a way of maintaining financial stability can be accomplished by offering disadvantaged families resources and economic support. Programs that assist women in becoming economically independent and that lessen poverty can also aid in the elimination of dowry customs. 

Empowering women is essential to solving this problem. Women's rights awareness can change society perceptions. In addition to causing financial hardship for the bride's family, dower also increases the risk of emotional and domestic abuse, as well as occasionally grave outcomes like death. Even with laws designed to discourage dowry, including the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain, 2000, and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 2018, its implementation is still lacking.

When dowry expectations are not fulfilled or are thought to be insufficient, women in rural communities are more exposed to violence. This violence can take many forms, from serious physical injury to emotional and psychological abuse. Extreme dowry-related conflicts have resulted in bride burnings and suicides, among other terrible events.

The reasons behind dower are traditional standards regarding women's roles, greed, and economic constraints. These elements force families to carry on the practice, therefore sustaining its detrimental effects. Dowry strains family relationships, promotes domestic violence, adds to gender inequality, and impedes national growth by depriving society of vital female labor.

A diversified strategy is necessary when addressing dowry. It is crucial to create victim support organizations for women, enforce current legislation, and make sure law enforcement authorities take action against violence linked to dowries. In rural regions, women can be empowered to refuse dowry demands and fight against the practice by being informed about their legal rights and by organizing grassroots groups.

In Bangladesh, especially in the countryside, cultural customs like the dowry system strongly influence the desire for male offspring. A number of causes, including poverty, economic dependency on spouses, established narrow-mindedness, widespread unfavorable views about women, and widespread illiteracy among women, all contribute to this desire. 

The government has to prioritize educating women in order to empower them and end the dowry system. The cultural norms that uphold dowry practices can be challenged and changed by providing women with more educational possibilities. This all-encompassing strategy seeks to eradicate dowries and the negative effects they cause, promoting social justice.

Campaigns in the mass media are essential for changing public perception and lowering the frequency of dowry customs. Less complicated wedding rituals might also help families who are struggling financially. To abolish the practice, the Dowry Prohibition Act must be strictly enforced, its flaws must be fixed, and the penalties for violators must be made public.

The problem is further complicated by cultural preferences for male offspring as a result of dowry-related financial incentives. Poverty, anti-women attitudes, and illiteracy are contributing reasons. The government should put an emphasis on women's empowerment and education in order to battle them, with the ultimate goal of eradicating dowries and the negative effects they cause from society. With the implementation of comprehensive measures and the promotion of cultural change, we may work toward a future in which women are recognized for their skills rather than being negatively impacted by dowries.

Bangladeshi rural women's economic security, social standing, and personal safety are all impacted by the dowry system. In order to guarantee that women may live free from the restrictions and mistreatment connected with dowries, addressing this issue calls for a concerted effort that involves legislative changes, educational programs, and cultural transformations.

The writer is an Advocate, Narsingdi Judge Court



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