8th lecture II.: Dowry

Question 1

(Western) Media coverage of Dowry Murder

Answer 1

• started in 1980s
• Started being seen as
  connected to india culturally
  (due to hinduism, caste
  system) on international
  level since 80s
• Seen as different to other
  femicides Dowry as essential
  part of hindu culture that
  leads to bride burnings

Question 2

British misinterpretation of female infanticide

Answer 2

british ppl interpreted it as dowry issue (pre-emptive dowry murder), cultural, religion
○ Cultural justification to
control/ rule over india

BUT
- Female infantice also in
communities without dowry
- Muslims didn’t do dowry (back then) -> infanticide not connected to dowry

Question 3

Dowry in pre-colonial India

Answer 3

Dowry as an “asset” for women in pre-colonial and early colonial india
- Women marry outside of
their villages
- Their rights in their natal
home lapse when leaving
- Alliances within households
seldom along gender lines
- Women in competition with
each other
- Dowry is a material resource
over which women have had
at least partial control
- Dowry purely voluntary

Question 4

Rytowari land reform under the brits (starting 1820)

Answer 4

• Creation of male individual
  property rights
• The male individual peasant
  solely responsible for taxes
• Fixes amount and inelastic
  payment dates
• Putting landed property in
  male hands exclusively (
  instead of being owned by
  whole family)

=> Indian male became
dominant legal subject

Question 5

what made people prioritize sons in colonial India?

Answer 5

-> Rytowari -> families
wanted sons to inherit the
farm
-> well paid jobs in colonial
army -> income
opportunity again only for
men
-> Job in imperial bureaucracy
(preserved for males)
=> Newly enhanced worth of
sons : dowry (asset for
women) turned into groom
price”, i.e. paying for the
privilege of marrying a man