Dowry Payments
A dowry is defined as "a nuptial present; some gift, as a sum ofmoney, which the bridegroom offers to the father of his bride as asatisfaction before he can receive her." (Eastens Bible Dictionary) InAfrican countries such as Algeria parental consent and a dowry are requiredbefore marriage. Algeria has a family code, which states "The dowry remains part of the marriage contract and the Code states clearly that this sum (property) belongs totally to the wife once the marriage has been consummated or the husband dies. The dowry is important in that it provides some financial security to the woman, provided that her husband and his family have been able to provide more than a token dowry. (Markovitz) The giving of dowries is a major part of the social structure of manyAfrican villages. The rules surrounding the dowry vary from nation tonation. For instance, in many cases if the couple is divorced the dowry isImpact on the relationship between husband and wife The dowry system definitely has an impact on marital relationships.This impact is due to the fact that the dowry sy
If she has sons, they can bring back their mother when they become older and successful. Such conditions enhance male status and undermine women's. Conclusion The purpose of this discussion was to examine how dowry or brideprice affects husband and wife relationship. In traditional bridewealth marriages, husbands have authority; husbands expect their wives to be obedient, and they tend to make claims on their wive's labor and income (Bledsoe 1990; Little 1973:38; Obbo 1980; Roberts 1988). Nowadays, women who are educated or who are engaged in wage labor often challenge their husband's authority and want a greater influence in decision-making. No thought is given to the relationship that the couple will have or thefeelings of the woman. In traditional Africancultures the husband is viewed as head of the household and women aretaught to be obedient to their husbands. In these cases the man simply providesthe father of the bride with a dowry and he is allowed to marry the woman. Hence, women's desire to gain status through economic independence is often a source of conflict within the union. In addition, this system perpetuates the notion that women arenothing more than property to be bought. " (Meekers)Human right's issues Some experts have come to the consensus that the dowry system canoften jeopardize the human rights of the woman. We also found thatthe traditional dowry system is decreasing in many African cultures. The dowry system also makes women subservient to men because they aredependent upon their husbands for survival. In addition, theintroduction of a new wife canimpact the dynamics of the family and the marital relationship.
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