>Dowry is almost non-existent today in Western culture. I would say it still exists. It just changed its name to alimony. In India, women don't pay dowry. It

>Dowry is almost non-existent today in Western culture. I would say it still exists. It just changed its name to alimony. In India, women don't pay dowry. It's the parents, usually the dad. The alimony system just changed it so that now the ex (usually husband) has to pay. I would call alimony/maintenance as divorce dowry.