dowry
Marriage payment tradition
A dowry is money, property, or goods that a bride's family gives to her husband or his family upon marriage.
The practice, ancient and widespread across cultures, ranges from symbolic gifts to substantial wealth transfers.
In societies where dowries persist, they can create financial pressure on the bride's family and have been linked to domestic abuse when payments are deemed insufficient.
The reverse arrangement—payment from the groom's family—is called a bride price.
Formal marriage agreement
- matchmakingArranging romantic connections
- matrimonyLegal union of spouses
- nuptialsVows and rings
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
bride · bridegroom · wedding · alliance · arranged marriage · ceremony · spousal · wedlock
Bride's gathered possessions
- bridepricePayment for marriage rights
- bride-wealthMarriage transfer payment
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- portionDivided share given
Property and grounds
- assetsOwned items of value
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- valuablesPossessions of significant worth
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
gold · land · household goods · linens · furniture · cattle · inheritance · transfer
State of being related
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
- householdDomestic unit of residents
in-laws · bloodline · alliance · relatives · progeny · consanguinity · paternity · maternity
Abundance of valuable resources
- paymentFulfilling a financial obligation
- transactionExchange of goods/money
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
valuation · inflation · demands · greed · extortion · compensation · investment · financial
Male-dominated social order
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- subjugationForcing into submission
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- women's rightsLegal equality for females
empowerment · exploitation · abuse · coercion · harassment · demands · negotiation · burden
Authoritative legal ban
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- crimePunishable illegal act
prosecution · regulation · enforcement · complaint · protection · act · statute · litigation
betrothal
Formal marriage agreement
- matchmakingArranging romantic connections
- matrimonyLegal union of spouses
- nuptialsVows and rings
engagement · bride · bridegroom · wedding · alliance · arranged marriage · ceremony · spousal · wedlock · union
trousseau
Bride's gathered possessions
- bridepricePayment for marriage rights
- bride-wealthMarriage transfer payment
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
portion · bride-gift · conjugal · pre-nuptial
estate
Property and grounds
- assetsOwned items of value
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- valuablesPossessions of significant worth
jewelry · gold · land · household goods · linens · furniture · cattle · inheritance · transfer · deed
kinship
State of being related
household · in-laws · bloodline · alliance · relatives · progeny · consanguinity · paternity · maternity · filiation
wealth
Abundance of valuable resources
- paymentFulfilling a financial obligation
- transactionExchange of goods/money
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
negotiation · valuation · inflation · demands · greed · extortion · compensation · investment · financial · bargaining
patriarchy
Male-dominated social order
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- subjugationForcing into submission
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
women's rights · empowerment · exploitation · abuse · coercion · harassment · demands · negotiation · burden · pressure
prohibition
Authoritative legal ban
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
crime · prosecution · regulation · enforcement · complaint · protection · act · statute · litigation · court
- Jane AustenEmma, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Mr Darcy
- sexual customssexual norms, sexual taboos, marriage customs, courtship, virginity
- tribal marriagebride price, bridewealth, marriage ceremony, tribal ceremonies, wedding rituals
- Islamic Lawsharia, Sharia, Shariah, Islamic law, fatwa
- GhanaAccra, Ashanti, Gold Coast, Western, Central
- Islamic familyumm, ab, bint, household, birr
- dowry systemMatrimonial wealth transfer practice
- dower houseWidow's provided dwelling