Dowry practices and their negative consequences from a female perspective in Karachi, Pakistan <br>—A qualitative study

Aim: To assess the pattern, demand and opinion of dowry among women in urban Karachi, Pakistan and their perceived negative consequences of dowry. Setting: Pakistan is a low income country, predominantly Muslim, with around 190 million inhabitants. Karachi is the biggest city with roughly 13 million inhabitants. Method: Qualitative study, using content analysis of five focus group discussions with women. Results: The theme “Dowry practices and their consequences” emerged, along with five categories and 14 subcategories, describing the “burden of dowry”, “dowry in society”, “dowry problems created by parents-in-law”, “negative consequences of dowry practice” and “good intentions”. Conclusion: Problems due to dowry practices are something which women of all socioeconomic classes in Karachi are aware of. A number of negative consequences of these practices create a current, pressing problem in Karachi society. These consequences affect women’s status and their possibilities to grow and educate themselves. It seems that change is being brought on slowly, following the country’s development and increasing educational level of the younger generation. Awareness of dowry issues needs to be raised and steps need to be taken to speed up this process of change by empowering women and ensuring equality in Pakistan.

Dowry System and Natural Law in Shakespeare

Dowry was an important even decisive factor of forming a marriage in Renaissance,which was illustrated in Shakespeare’s plays.“No dowry,no marriage”was a common social phenomenon in Europe.Dowry was essentially a way of the actualization of male power in the context of patriarchal society,and the dowry system in Renaissance provided a unique angle to observe the social and family relationships,and the conflict between marriage freedom of children and actualization of parental power at that time.Shakespeare’s arrangement of dowry and marriage shows his satire to the unreasonable existing law.Actually we can find his inclination for natural law and consistence with Pufendorf who believes that family is the primary form of society,and marriage is the most primitive form of socialization,which is the requirement of natural law.

Dowry Households for"Princess"of Qing Dynasty and Ethnic Interaction and Integration in Inner Mongolia

Due to the Manchu-Mongolian intermarriage policy implemented during the Qing Dynasty,a substantial number of Manchu,Mongolian and Han Chinese accompanied royal figures,commonly referred to as"princesses",to Mongolia as dowry households.The dowry household system underwent customization during the Qianlong period,and its temporal and spatial distribution,influenced by policies and various factors,exhibited a gradual decline from east to west.The impact of these dowry households on Inner Mongolian society is predominantly manifested in people's mobility,economic structures,and social organization forms within the Inner Mongolia Region.This article utilizes official archives,historical records,and folk memories to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the communication,interaction and integration between princess"dowry households and ethnic group in Inner Mongolia.