The Sociological Problems of Women with Special Reference to Dowry System in India

Today a young lady is a mother in a near future and the term mother bears lots of responsibilities for her family and for her nation, love for her children and others, a careful face for everybody, a helping hand in a critical period even at the time of illness. Besides that, a female is a symbol for a queen of passion, a merciful look straight to your heart, a mature thinking brain etc.

But, the crime against women becomes a very critical sociological problem in India. Crime against women is increasing which involves mainly molestation, sexual harassment, kidnapping and dowry deaths. Practically, crime is started before the birth of a female child by aborting the female embryo by modern medical techniques. Male child is preferred by the parents because males are thought to be an earning head of a family. What a backdated thinking ! Some faces of new fathers become pale when they listen that his new born baby is a female child. Think how much horrible !

# 2

Among the many evils of India dowry system is the worst. This system is prevalent in this country from a long past and found almost all parts of India. The dowry system is a social evil and cannot be completely prevented by law. Dowry consists of huge amount of money and other precious items given by the parents of a bride to the family of her 'would-be husband' at the time of their marriage. Many rich family of girls offer dowry in cash or by ornaments to attract the view of the family of the doctor/engineer/high level officer/foreign degree holder young male. Sometimes the greedy parents of well-established eligible bachelor try to take the advantage of that before and even after the marriage. When the marriage ceremony is over then the husband and in-laws often demand more and more cash or ornaments. If then the bride's family fail to pay the cash then the brides have to face the inhuman physical and mental torture even sometimes brides are murdered. Sometimes newly married brides are forced to commit suicide or to sign in divorce paper. In India, the Dowry Prohibition Act has now been made harsher and offences under this Act have been made cognizable and non-bailable. This Act should be properly implemented.

# 3

But the all people of this country have to prevent this dowry system by avoiding of taking dowry during the arrange marriages. This evil system can be prevented to some extent if the women are made self-sufficient by giving them education and employment. Moreover, public opinion against this evil system must be roused through anti dowry campaign by media and social service organizations. People must be impelled to boycott socially all those who offer or accept dowry.

Come and establish a second heaven on this earth.