01 The Impact of Class Background on South Asian Marriages: A Study of Dowry Practices

Abstract

Giving and receiving dowries is a tradition among South Asian families. The practice of dowry in the context of class background has received relatively little attention in the UK. This paper examines the experiences of South Asian women of different class backgrounds in Birmingham, with a focus on their attitudes towards receiving or giving dowries and what role dowry plays in class mobility and maintenance. The case study design with the use of a qualitative method approach investigates the attitudes and experiences of women who belong to different class backgrounds. Data obtained from these interviews were subjected to the grounded theory approach. The findings show that attitudes toward the continuity of dowry practices differed according to the social class in which the women were in. There is also evidence that women have different experiences according to their family background, education, social class, cultural background and their religion.