DOWRY IN A MODERN WAY

H.M.SAIFID- 092-0221-030

ENGLISH 105, SECTION 11DR. SHIREEN HUQ (Snh)

DECEMBER 27, 2012

ABSTRACT

In my research paper titled “Dowry in a modern way”, I was trying to find some answers of the questions which related to our modern dowry system, its overall impact on our society and the ways to sort out the problem. To test my hypothesis, I used both primary and secondary research methods. For my primary method, I made a questionnaire with 12 questions composed of 6 Multiple Choice Questions, 4 Open Ended Questions and 3 Close Ended Questions. With the help of a friend I distributed these questionnaires to a sample size of 30 and after collecting and analyzing the data, presented my findings. For my secondary research, I only browsed the web for information, where it was relatively abundant. I found that both the primary and secondary research findings backed up my hypothesis thus proving it correct and valid.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

DR. SHIREEN HUQManosh chowdhury

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

1.1Backgrounds and rationale1.2Hypothesis1.3Significance of study1.4Methodology1.5Limitations of study

2. Survey and findings

2.1Questionnaire

Findings

3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

References

APPENDIX

1. Introduction:

1.1 Background and rationale:

The topic on which I conducted my research is “Dowry in a modern way”. As I want to describe about the topic, Dowry System must have evolved thousands of years ago in our culture and must have been based on the idea of gift giving. Basically dowry system must have originated long back with an idea of giving gifts to the daughter and the groom’s family to ensure the well-being of the bride. Every tradition starts it as a practice and then gradually evolves into a custom or tradition. Same way a practice of giving gifts for the well-being of the daughter in a new place gradually developed into modern day Dowry system. The practice which originated from a modest root has grown and transformed into an outrageous custom today. It is no more a voluntary exercise rather it is demanded. With the liberalization of the market and availability of luxurious items, the need of people has been replaced by greed.

Hypothesis:

I believe that dowry is an oldest practices which existing in the modern society in different shapes. And people transformed this modest thing into an outrageous custom today, which has adverse effect on the society.

1.2 Significance of study:

I believe that my research topic is relatively unknown to general people and my research has shed some light on the existing condition of dowry system. From here we will get to know some modern ways why and how people take dowry now days, and what are the impacts to the society for it. Overall we will find the possible ways by which we can solve this problem from the society.

1.3 Methodology:

a) Primary Research: For my primary research I prepared a questionnaire with 13 questions and used it to carry out my survey. I carefully structured and edited the questions so that they would not only get me relevant information for my research but also keep the respondents interested enough to finish filling out the questionnaire. The sample size allocated was 20 people, and the sample selected were students and newly married person. I distributed these questionnaires along with the help of a friend to 20 of the aforementioned sample group. After collecting the questionnaires I analyzed them and converted the data into bar graphs and pie charts to illustrate my findings.

b) Secondary Research: I focused only on the internet as my secondary research tool as not enough information is present in the form of books, newspapers etc.

Even then, information on my topic is very sparse and hard to come by, hence I focused on whatever I could find that was even slightly relevant.

1.4 Limitations:

There was time constraint as not enough time was allocated to conduct research properly. Also, sample size in the survey process for the primary data collection was too small to get decisive results. Finally, not enough relevant books were found regarding my topic when collecting secondary data.

2.Survey and Findings:

2.1 Questionnaire:

I prepared a questionnaire with 12 questions, which comprised of 6 Multiple Choice Questions, 3 Close Ended Questions and 3 Open Ended Questions. I structured my questionnaire carefully to get as much information as I could on my primary research question. My questionnaire was distributed to a sample size of 20 (with the help of a friend), made up of students and married people. So far I had received 16 responses. Out of the 16, I used 15 to prepare and assemble my statistics and figures as the 16th respondent returned the questionnaire when I had just finished calculating the figures. It was also incomplete so I had more incentive to disregard it and go ahead with 15 responses. Below is the result of my findings.

Findings:

Q.1 Do you know about the dowry system in our country?

Yes No

From the data above, it is apparent that 73% of the respondents have idea or know about the dowry system in our country, while almost 27% do not. This has thus proved my hypothesis that the dowry system is quiet familiar to almost everybody. And it’s a problem which really existing in the society in these modern days.

Q.2W hat is the main reason for u to get married with a girl/guy from a rich family? He/ She have more chance to be more educated. You will get more impression in the society as you will get more gifts and advantage from

the laws house. A rich relative can ensure more security in the society for you. You will be more honored by everybody.

Do you know about the dowry system in our country?

Yes, 73.33%

No, 26.67%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

Yes No

Options

Pe

rcen

tag

e o

f re

spo

nd

ents

Yes

No

From the data above, it can be seen that the majority of respondents, about 47% .which actually indicates that to get married in a rich family increase the impression of a person and for the gifts and other things The second highest total was 27% of total respondents who wants more security in the society. The third highest total was 20% of respondents who are basically going for education. The last options that received the least number of responses at 6.67%. This meant that the majority of the people are taking dowry to get an impression from the society in modern days. This question was designed as a prelude with which to follow up and ask a question which would be required to test my hypothesis. Hence, this question is not crucial for my hypothesis although it does somewhat prove my hypothesis.

Q.3 If your laws house give you gifts as a dowry, what will you do?

Don’t take it Take it and give them back. Take it, and it will create your impression to all that you laws house gives you gifts. None of them Some of them (please specify the number) (____)

What is the main reason for you to get married with a guy or girl from a rich family?

A, 20.00%

B, 47.00%

C, 27%

D, 6.67%

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00%

A

B

C

D

Op

tio

ns

Percentage of respondents

D

C

B

A

From the pie chart above, it can be seen that 34% of the total number don’t want to take that and 40% of the total number want to take that as creating their impression, which clearly indicates that modern people don’t want to do this but after all for the family impression sometimes they have to do that. This thus proves my hypothesis proves that a problem like dowry exists in the society in its modern shape.

Q.4Do you know any person, who take gifts as dowry from the laws house?

No, I don’t know Yes, I know Not sure.

Q.3. If your laws house give you gifts as a dowry what will you do?

A34%

B13%

C40%

D13%

A

B

C

D

Do you know any person, who takes gifts as a dowry from the laws house?

A20%

B53%

C27%

A

B

C

As shown in the above pie chart, 20% of the respondent says that they don’t know butb 53% of the responded has encountered this problem in the society. Because now a day’s almost every family taking gifts and the net 27% who are not basically sure about it. What actually make my hypothesis more clear and easy.

Q.5 If yes, then please state about the situation:

This was an open ended question and the majority of respondents weren’t willing to answer this, but the few who did ranged in opinion. The most common one was that they are taking flat, electronic goods or car as a gift from the laws house.

Q.6 Do you think that the authority or govt. is taking proper actions to remove this problem from the society?

Yes, govt. is taking many steps to solve this. No, govt. or authority does not do anything regarding this problem. Can do better Not sure

As illustrated in the bar chart above, there were no users who didn’t have an opinion on the above question. 20% felt that govt. is doing well while 27% felt that govt. was doing almost nothing and 53% felt that govt. could do better. This meant that roughly 80% of the respondents felt that there was enough scope for govt. to up its game and improve its existing protection system. This has proved my hypothesis that most of the people still think that the authority and the govt. still not taking enough steps to solve this problem which ensure this problem about to exist in the society.

20.00%27.00%

53.00%

0%0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Percentage of respondents

A B C D

Options

6. Do you think that the authority or govt. is taking Proper actions to remove this problem from the

society?

A

B

C

D

Q.7 Do you think that there is more scope for improvement when it comes to the protection provided and govt. will take more steps and laws will be more applicable?

No Yes

As seen in the pie chart above, the majority of people taking the survey (about 67%) have been shown to believe that a better chance to solve this problem if the govt. can make some rule to resolve this problem from the society. And the other 33%dont really agree with this.

Q.8 Would you consciously take dowry from your laws house?

Yes, I absolutely would No, I definitely won’t Not sure

Q.7 Do you think that there is more scope for improvement when it comes to the protection provided and govt. will take more steps and laws

Will be more

applicable?

67%

33%

A

B

Although I hypothesized that more people in modern days does not really want to take dowry and want to confess it in front of all which this bar chart clearly indicates.66% people says that they don’t want it.

Q.9 If no or undecided, then please state why:

This was an open ended question designed to follow up to number 8, and most people did not respond to this. Those who did either felt that taking dowry is not good and it’s like a “social crime”. So they don’t want to do that.

Q.10 what kind of change in the society you have noticed for dowry system?

Improvement Society will suffer a lot. No change Not sure

Q.8 Would you consciously take dowry From your laws house?

27.00%

66.70%

6.30%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

A B C

Options

Pe

rcen

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e o

f re

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nd

ents

A

B

C

For this question the majority of respondents (46.7%) confirmed my hypothesis that the society will suffer more for this problem. Only 6.67% felt that there was improvement and 13.33% said that there was no change and a lot of respondents (33.33%) were undecided.

Q11. Would you encourage family members, relatives, friends or acquaintances to take dowry?

Yes No

6.67%

46.70%

13.33%

33%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

Percentage of respondents

A B C D

Options

Q.10 What kind of change in the society you have noticed For dowry

system?

A

B

C

D

Q11. Would you encourage family members, relatives, friends or acquaintances to take

dowry?

A7%

B93%

A

B

This question had an overwhelming majority of respondents at 93% who said that they would not encourage family members or friends to take dowry. This has proven my hypothesis as people are aware of the detrimental effects of dowry system in modern days.

Q.12 In your opinion, is it really necessary to take dowry in our marriage system?

In this open ended question almost 90% of respondents answered that they felt marriage system is for the betterment of the society and dowry make it complicated so this is really unnecessary to take dowry in the marriage.

2. Conclusion and Recommendations:

In my final analysis, I found that most of my hypothesis was proven correct as most of the respondents agreed with my views on this topic, save for one question (Question no. 8) where my hypothesis was proven to be incorrect. The respondents, like me, felt that dowry is a big problem in our society and it is existing adversely in our society and the authority and govt. should take more steps to solve this problem

from the society. Thus, my hypothesis was correct and the following recommendations can help alleviate the discussed problems:

Application of the law would be more active.

Young generation should have to raise their voice against it.

Best thing to end the dowry system from the society is to start thinking positively.

Updating the prosecuting system for those who demand or receive dowry.

References

Lalotra, M. (2012, May 26). Dowry and its modern version as a system. IT Pro. Retrieved may 27th, 2012, from http://manavlalotra.com/dowry-its-modern-version-as-a-system/

Huja.S.L. (2009, September 27).Dowry system in India. IT Pro. Retrieved December 18, 2012, from books.google.com/books/about/Dowry_system_in_India.html?id

APPENDIX

Sample QuestionnaireResearch Proposal