ABSTRACT

Dowry increased with the expansion of capitalist relations and dowry has been transformed into ‘demand, extortion, material gain, and profit maximization’ (Samuel, 2002, p. 205). The most common motives behind the dowry system are the grooms’ and their families’ greed, growing consumerism, excessive materialism, status seeking and rising expectations for a better and more luxurious life. Despite the existence of anti-dowry laws, dowry victims do not receive justice because of the difficulties and expense of the legal process.