Dowry vs. Alimony in India: Why the Comparison is Misleading—and Dangerous
๐ฐ Dowry vs. Alimony in India: Why the Comparison is Misleading—and Dangerous In recent times, a vocal section of Indian men have started comparing alimony to dowry , calling the a “modern scam” where women take what men once did . The argument? That alimony is dowry in reverse . A Man's Rights' Activist's Comment About Ridhanya's Dowry Death But is this just frustration—or is it a deliberate, dangerous misdirection? Let’s break this down. ๐ What’s the Difference Between Dowry and Alimony? ๐ท️ Dowry : ๐ Given before or during marriage ๐งณ Assets transferred from the bride’s family to the groom’s family ๐ซ Illegal under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 ๐งจ Rooted in patriarchy , often leading to abuse and violence against women ๐ธ Men and their families are the beneficiaries ⚖️ Alimony : ๐ Given after divorce ๐ฉ⚖️ Court-ordered support to the financially weaker spouse (often the wife) ✅ Legal , governed by Indian personal laws and Cr...