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Get your free subscription at: http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-sports-goanet.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hei, I note the indignation brought about by the dowry system. It is an old custom found throughout the world and passed from generation to generation. Here are some of my views. Feel free to discuss, contribute or criticise them at will. Of course any system however good is open to abuse. That does not follow that the aims of a dowry system is in itself a bad practice. In some cultures the dowry is made from the husbands side and in others it is made from the brides side. Systems develop from the needs of the culture and the environment. These systems are handed down by elders as customs and traditions. Fundamentally, the only object of these systems is to ensure the long term survival and advantage of the community in an as fair a system as possible. Of course there is no accounting for people who will abuse the system. That is when laws intervene to prevent abuse of the system. Where a dowry is paid from the husbands side, it would appear that the husbands side is taking away a resource from the brides side of the family which has to be made good. It seems reasonable that resources have a cost and have to be paid for. When families have limited resources this can be very important to the brides family. More realistically they are relinquishing a resource and an investment in its prime at great inconvenience and cost to themselves . It seems reasonable that the brides family should be compensated. A transaction based system implies that the bride has been bought and paid for. Problems arise when the goods are not fit for purpose as evident in consumer laws. Further, in some cultures the men have a high death toll. The community is then beset by the economics of supply and demand. It would appear therefore that there could be a lot of women who would never fulfil their purpose if there are insufficient men around. The ability to buy your bride then demonstrates your purchasing power. Further, in some instances in a purchase based system the capital on an aging resource has to be replaced to meet the increasing demands of the family. A replacement in the way of a 'fit' younger woman serves as a wife and help to the whole family. Arab, African and nomadic cultures make use of this system successfully. Fundamentally, there is nothing wrong with it. It is a system that has survived the test of time and appears to work, however, it would indeed be very odd if some people did not abuse the system. Where the dowry is from the brides side, it would appear that the bride side is making an investment to further the opportunities of the families and fundamentally to ensure that the couple has a even chance of the bride continuing to live in an way she has been grown accustomed to. No parent would like to see their daughters standards fall. Aspiring for the same or higher standards is helped when a dowry provides a young couple something to build on. The brides family will put up a dowry on what it can afford. Clearly, this automatically places a value on the bride in real terms. In a sedentary society where there is an opportunity to create wealth, the amount of dowry is an expression of that wealth. Fundamentally, there is nothing wrong with the system in wanting the best for a young couple especially when the couple has to get to speed in a competitive society and up to standard quickly. Asians and Europeans appear to embrace this system which too has survived the test of time. Even the monarchy have entered into marriages of convenience to increase their power. However, it would indeed be odd if the system was not abused. In most well regulated families these days I would hazard a guess, the dowry is not an issue. It can be a sore point with some women. It almost always incensed my mother when the question of her dowry was raised even jokingly. A dowry it would appear can never be enough if you want to taunt your mum. lol.