Page 215 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 27: Family Problems: Dowry Death and Bride Burning

Dowry Deaths Notes
Though the Dowry prohibition Act, 1961 banned the ‘Dowry’custom, yet in reality, the law only
admits that the dowry menace still exists. In fact, no one (husband or in-laws) has even been
prosecuted for demanding dowry. In the last few years, there has been an increase in dowry
demands and deaths related to it. According to a balanced approximation, 5,000 killings take
place every year, which are related to dowry or insufficient dowry. According the 1993 report
of the government of India (January 29, 1993), presently, in every 102 minutes, a dowry related
death takes place in India. In every day the number of dowry deaths goes up to 33 and annually,
5000 approximately. Most of the dowry deaths take place at the husbands home, in isolation
and the family is the conspirator in the crime. Thus, the courts accept that they do not punished
due to insufficient of proo. Sometimes the police investigation gets so tough that the courts too,
express apprehension on the police officer’s efficiency and dedication.
According to my experienced studies, the major observations related to dowry deaths are the
following.
1. The rate of harassment against women of middle class is higher than that of lower or upper
castes women.
2. Approximately 70% of the victims are in the age group of 21–24 years, i.e., they are not only
matured physically, but also socially and emotionally.
3. The menace is found more amongst the upper caste than the lower caste.
4. Before, killing, the young bride is insulted in many ways. That reflects the unruly social
behaviour of the victims family members (in-laws).
5. Amongst the reasons of dowry deaths, the major sociological factor is the pressure of the
environment on the culprit or the social stress which emerges from the family’s internal or
external problems. The other prominent psychological factors are the dominate personality
of the culprit, his aggressive attitude and personality disorder.
6. There is no co-relation between the girls education standard and dowry death.
7. The structure of the family plays a major role in burning the new bride.

27.3 Summary

• To take and give dowry has become essential dut to selection of life partner in a limited
area, marriage in same caste, etc.
• Dowry has become a grave problem in India.
• Due to dowry thousands of women have been killed.
• Around 5000 women killed due to dowry every year in the country.
• Dowry Prohibition act has implemented in 1961 by the government in which taking and
giving dowry has become punishable offence.

27.4 Keywords
1. Marriage by Capture: The process of getting life partner in shcedule tribe community, in
which a man get his wife by kidnap her forcefully. It is considered that this will be first
method of getting life partner in early time.
2. Dowry: The dowry prohibition act amended in 1961 and 1984.

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