LEARNING CENTRE

Bride price and dowry abuse

What is it?

Bride price and dowry are terms that refer to payments made at the time of marriage in many cultures.

Dowry is a practice involving a payment made by the bride’s family to the groom’s family during a marriage agreement.

Bride price or bride-dowry involves a payment by the groom’s family to the bride’s family during marriage arrangements.

Both bride price and dowry usually include transfers of property, land, money, clothing, jewellery, household goods, or livestock. It is rarely a straightforward gift – it frequently occurs under pressure and is based on social expectations.

Dowry abuse relates to any act of violence or harassment related to dowry before, during or after marriage. This abuse can take many forms including pressure on the bride’s family to provide money and gifts, acts of publicly shaming the bride and her family, threats, coercion, physical abuse, and in extreme cases, dowry-related death. It is recognised as a type of domestic abuse and financial abuse. Dowry abuse can also be linked to bride abandonment and forced marriages.

Bride price is also used to justify abuse towards women and girls due to perceived obligations of child bearing and gender roles expectations. Women can face extortion, public humiliation, threats, coercion and physical abuse when they are demanded to return the bride price, for example, in cases of divorce.

Who is at risk?

Dowry or bride price related abuse can affect individuals belonging to societies with persisting traditions around dowry type practices. Women and girls, due to societal values and lack of legal protections, face higher risks. Impoverished families, women that are divorced or widowed, or those estranged from their families, also face risks due to social stigmas and power imbalances.

The true prevalence is difficult to establish as this type of abuse is hidden and often unreported, mostly happening behind closed doors.

What’s the harm?

Harms from dowry related abuse may include:

Financial abuse
Rape
Publicly shaming of a woman and her family
Abuse from multiple perpetrators
Extension of abuse to family and community members
Transnational marriage abandonment
Removal of travel documents
Depression or anxiety
Social isolation
Acid attacks or death by burning
Early marriages
Suicide

Why does it happen?

Reasons may include:

A guarantee against poverty
Financial gain
Marriage validation
Social and cultural expectations
Social status improvement
Immigration
Lack of law enforcement

The law

Dowry and bride price practices are not specifically regulated, however legal professionals handling dowry-related issues utilise the existing legal frameworks such as family law, forced marriage law, domestic abuse laws and financial crime regulations.

What are the warning signs?

Warning signs can include:

Mention of threats and pressure to gather or return funds
Being starving, isolated and treated badly for not bringing enough dowry
No control over own income, money or jewellery
Acting withdrawn or upset
Depression, self-harm or suicidal attempts
Unexplained absence at work, school or any regular gathering
Physical regular ‘accidental’ injuries
High number of phone calls from family members or their spouse
Limited autonomy and social surveillance
Not allowed to learn a local language to communicate
Sudden travel arrangements to ‘home’ country

What can we do?

Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger

– Report to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

– Report to Social Care / MASH if appropriate

– Link with a specialist agency upon obtaining consent (if the victim-survivor is an adult)

– Offer non-judgmental emotional support

– Keep accurate records and use professional curiosity when asking questions

Specialist support services for dowry and bride price abuse

Support is available for anyone who is experiencing, or is at risk of harmful practices, as well as those who are worried for someone they know.

Karma Nirvana supports victims of ‘honour’-based abuse and forced marriage

National helpline, Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm Tel: 0800 5999 247

Southall Black Sisters provides holistic advocacy services aimed at supporting Black and diverse women, Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm Tel: 020 8571 0800

Ashiana Network supports women at risk of forced marriage and ‘honour’-based violence and those with no recourse to public funds Tel: 020 8539 0427

IKWRO Women’s Rights Organization supports Middle Eastern, North African (MENA) and Afghan women and girls who are living in the UK, Monday – Friday 9:30am – 5:30pm Tel: 0207 920 6460