Dowry System: An Impediment to Women Empowerment

Abstract

The term "dowry" is used to describe the gifts given to the groom by the bride's family at the time of the wedding. These gifts can take the form of property, money, ornaments, or other forms of wealth. Dowry is a problem in Indian marriage as well as a cultural tradition. It's become a business transaction in which the bride's financial status is more important than her individual qualities. Principle 4 of the Cairo Manifesto from 1994 states, "the advancement of gender equality and equity, the empowerment of women, the elimination of all kinds of violence against women, and the promotion of women's control over their own fertility are the corner stones of human development." A woman's and a girl's right to an education and a safe and healthy life is fundamental to the protection of all human rights. Stopping all forms of discrimination on the basis of gender and ensuring that women have full and equal access to all aspects of society, from the household to the boardroom, are two of the world's most important issues.