Controversy has arisen over a section of Maharashtra board\u2019s class 12 sociology textbook, which lists a girl\u2019s \u201cugliness\u201d as a cause of dowry.<\/p>\n
This section, included in the chapter \u2018Major Social Problems in India\u2019, reads as follows:<\/p>\n
\u201cIf girl is ugly and handicapped, the it becomes difficult for her to get married. To marry such girls bridegroom and their family demand more dowry. Parents of such girls become helpless and pay dowry as per the demands of bridegroom\u2019s family. It leads to rise in the practice of dowry system. \u201d<\/p>\n
Among the other causes listed are \u2018social prestige,\u2019 \u2018expectation of the bridegroom\u2019 and \u2018compensation principle\u2019 among others. The section on \u2018social prestige\u2019 refers to dowry as a symbol of social prestige; hence the higher the dowry obtained, the greater social currency a family has. Another reason, \u2018kulin marriage\u2019 states that since such marriages are considered more auspicious and hence are more sought after, it increases the opportunity of demanding a higher dowry.<\/p>\n
Criticism has been pouring forth from all channels that the text lacks critical engagement. Rather than make the students aware of the social problem that dowry is, the language seem to justify the practice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Controversy has arisen over a section of Maharashtra board\u2019s class 12 sociology textbook, which lists a girl\u2019s \u201cugliness\u201d as a cause of dowry. This section, included in the chapter \u2018Major Social Problems in India\u2019, reads as follows: \u201cIf girl is ugly and handicapped, the it becomes difficult for her to get married. To marry such […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6898,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3975],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[4525],"yoast_head":"\n