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The Historical Roots of Dowries in Contemporary Kerala
Dowry payments from the family of the bride to that of the groom were rarely encountered in Kerala during the early twentieth century, but now are almost universal. Based on an examination of historical documents, including legislative debates, court cases, and reports, the way dowry was explained i...
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| Format: | Printed Book |
| Publicat: |
South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies
2014
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| Accés en línia: | http://10.26.1.76/ks/004930.pdf |
| Sumari: | Dowry payments from the family of the bride to that of the groom were rarely encountered in
Kerala during the early twentieth century, but now are almost universal. Based on an
examination of historical documents, including legislative debates, court cases, and reports,
the way dowry was explained in the past is compared with the results of 200 contemporary
interviews to determine its current rationale. Nowadays, making an obligatory payment for
the maintenance of a wife, adherence to a social norm, and guaranteeing a woman’s good
treatment have displaced earlier arguments related to inheritance, status in the social
hierarchy, or a woman’s ability to provide for herself. Although several blurred traditions
have been cited to account for dowries, they seem to have flourished in times of social inequity
and uncertainty: the 1930s, 1970s, and 1990s. The emphasis on patriarchal nuclear families
has created a mentality that a woman must pay for the privilege of being married and living
securely. |
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| Descripció física: | p.22-42 37:1 |