Adultery, dowries and widows

Adul­tery is no lon­ger a crime in India after the Supreme Court struck down colo­nial legis­la­tion that con­si­de­red women to be the pro­perty of their hus­bands. Adul­tery is no lon­ger a crime thanks to this judi­cial ini­ti­a­tive in a soci­ety that is still pro­foundly patri­arc­hal. Des­pite being ban­ned by law, the bride’s dowry is still an almost obli­ga­tory con­ven­tion in many pla­ces. It is an expense that mires fami­lies in the swamp of honour. Not paying dow­ries leads to thou­sands of mur­ders (many are burnt alive) and sui­ci­des every year. Added to this is the con­dem­na­tion of being a widow. When an Indian woman’s hus­band dies, her head is sha­ved. Everyt­hing she has is taken from her, her family shuns her and she is con­si­de­red to bring bad luck. Gen­der equa­lity?