3 ms·

Can someone explain how it relates to property, given that the daughters family pays the dowry. Isn't this like "I'm paying you to take my daughter off my hands

Can someone explain how it relates to property, given that the daughters family pays the dowry. Isn't this like "I'm paying you to take my daughter off my hands". If the girl is property, shouldn't the grooms family pay the daughters family? Like an exchange for the girl?

ZephyrBlu 3y ago
Yeah I don't get this either.
failuser 3y ago
Utilization fee? A more generous reading is that a dowry is the starting capital for the new family. In Russian history the dowry was considered wife’s property, but I understand that this is rare.
bombcar 3y ago
It would imply the girl is negative-value property, if property at all. Cultures are different and what the norms associated with even apparently identical practices (dowries in Britain vs dowries in India) could be entirely unrelated.
adamrezich 3y ago
this has always bothered me too, to the point of making me think that the "only a century ago, women were considered property" claim to either be a false oversimplification, or require far more justification than I've ever seen given to the topic. because like, I can sell my property, in addition to buying it—so I'm not really sure how that adds up, either.
- Dracophoenix 3y ago
  The doctrine applied to married women is called coverture. Coverture deems that a married woman has no independent existence or right, but shares with her husband the benefits and (some of) the rights of he had possesses. > because like, I can sell my property, in addition to buying it—so I'm not really sure how that adds up, either. Bodily organs are recognized as property and yet many countries forbid their purchase or sale irrespective of the owner's or purchaser's consent.
  - adamrezich 3y ago
    > Coverture deems that a married woman has no independent existence or right, but shares with her husband the benefits and (some of) the rights of he had possesses. this does not sound like "property" to me, at all. it sure doesn't sound like the way things are done today, but, it does not sound like "property" either. as of now, I maintain that this popular shorthand is a poor descriptor.
p4coder 3y ago
One justification for dowry that people asking dowry used to give was till 2005, the hindu inheritance law did not have a claim for daughters. So dowry was a way to get that inheritance in advance.
fzeroracer 3y ago
You're missing the actual exchange in this situation, which is societal status. The property being exchanged is your daughter and a sum of money; in exchange your family receives higher status and connections. Exchanging family for status has been a strong factor throughout human history because it can give certain legal and monetary benefits.

ZephyrBlu 3y ago

Yeah I don't get this either.

failuser 3y ago

Utilization fee? A more generous reading is that a dowry is the starting capital for the new family. In Russian history the dowry was considered wife’s property, but I understand that this is rare.

bombcar 3y ago

It would imply the girl is negative-value property, if property at all. Cultures are different and what the norms associated with even apparently identical practices (dowries in Britain vs dowries in India) could be entirely unrelated.

adamrezich 3y ago

this has always bothered me too, to the point of making me think that the "only a century ago, women were considered property" claim to either be a false oversimplification, or require far more justification than I've ever seen given to the topic. because like, I can sell my property, in addition to buying it—so I'm not really sure how that adds up, either.

Dracophoenix 3y ago
The doctrine applied to married women is called coverture. Coverture deems that a married woman has no independent existence or right, but shares with her husband the benefits and (some of) the rights of he had possesses. > because like, I can sell my property, in addition to buying it—so I'm not really sure how that adds up, either. Bodily organs are recognized as property and yet many countries forbid their purchase or sale irrespective of the owner's or purchaser's consent.
- adamrezich 3y ago
  > Coverture deems that a married woman has no independent existence or right, but shares with her husband the benefits and (some of) the rights of he had possesses. this does not sound like "property" to me, at all. it sure doesn't sound like the way things are done today, but, it does not sound like "property" either. as of now, I maintain that this popular shorthand is a poor descriptor.

p4coder 3y ago

One justification for dowry that people asking dowry used to give was till 2005, the hindu inheritance law did not have a claim for daughters. So dowry was a way to get that inheritance in advance.

fzeroracer 3y ago

You're missing the actual exchange in this situation, which is societal status. The property being exchanged is your daughter and a sum of money; in exchange your family receives higher status and connections. Exchanging family for status has been a strong factor throughout human history because it can give certain legal and monetary benefits.