M.A., LLB, M.Phil (Research Scholar) Asst. Professor, of Sociology, Government First Grade College, Shimoga, Shimoga District, Karnataka State
Guide: Dr. A. Ramegowda, Professor, Dept of PG Studies and Research in Sociology Kuvempu University Gnyana Sahayadri Shankarghatta
India venerates women as goddesses and mother. Rivers and the nations are named as women. There have been poets and great men in India who have crusaded that women should be treated on par with men. Right from politics down to the primary level, attempts have been made to debate the status of women, but due to cultural, educational, religious, economic and social reasons, women have become second rate citizens.
There is a notion in the society that men are superior and women are inferior. As a result, the society tries and is trying to oppress women at various levels and in different ways. Gandhiji has, said,” Our good day of national awareness is the day women attain awareness. Any family, society or nation that does not respect women will perish.
One among the practices that oppress women in India is dowry in the beginning it was the men who gave dowry (bride price) to the women. This custom is in vogue in some of the Gulf countries even today. Later, the parents of the bride started giving dowry to the men. Today the system of dowry and its practice have become a serious social problem.
Women, Marriage, Practice, Socio-cultural, Dowry, Offences, oppression, Awareness
