Marriage Payments | Anthropology Optional for UPSC PDF Download

About Marriage Payments

• Marriage payments are the exchange of money, items, or services between families when a marriage occurs. 
•  These payments can include wealth, which refers to money or valuable assets. 
•  Families may also share goods, such as gifts or property, as part of the marriage agreement. 
•  In some cultures, services might be provided, which can involve help or support in various forms. 
•  The purpose of these payments is often to strengthen relationships between families. 
•  This practice can vary significantly among different cultures and traditions. 
•  Understanding these aspects of marriage payments is important for grasping their role in social structures. 

Clear all your UPSC doubts with EduRev Join for Free

Join for Free

Types of Marriage payments

• Bride Price (Bride Wealth): This is when the groom's family gives goods or money to the bride's family. This practice is common in places like Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Asia. The bride price acts as a form of payment to the bride's family for the loss of her help and ability to have children. 
• Dowry: This is the opposite of bride price. In this case, the bride’s family gives money or goods to the groom or his family. This is often seen in South Asia, especially in India. Dowry can raise important discussions about issues like gender, power, and money exchanges, which are well explained by N.P. Kishore Sir. 
• Bride Service: Instead of giving money or goods, the groom works for the bride's family as a way of paying for the marriage. This is a tradition in some Native American and African tribes. 
• Gift Exchange: In certain cultures, marriage payments might involve exchanging gifts between both families. These gifts represent mutual respect and help to create strong family bonds. 

Theoretical Approaches to Marriage Payments

• Functionalism: Functionalists believe that marriage payments play a key role in promoting social unity by creating bonds between families. This perspective highlights how marriage contributes to social order and stability.
• Marxist Approach: According to Marxist anthropologists, marriage payments are seen as a type of economic transaction that mirrors the class differences present in society. In cultures where a dowry or bride price is practiced, these payments are viewed as ways to maintain economic disparities.
• Symbolic Anthropology: This viewpoint examines how marriage payments reflect broader cultural beliefs. For example, bride wealth may symbolize fertility, while a dowry can indicate a family's social standing.

Download the notes Marriage Payments

Download as PDF

Download as PDF

Marriage Payments: Aspects and Gender Relations 

• One of the key topics in Marriage Payments within Anthropology Optional is how these payments affect gender dynamics. 
•  In certain cultures, a bride price can increase the perceived value of a bride, making her more esteemed. 
• Conversely, a dowry can sometimes lead to exploitative practices, especially in societies that are patriarchal. 

Take a Practice Test Test yourself on topics from UPSC exam

Practice Now

Practice Now

Case Studies on Marriage Payments

•  Among the Nuer people of South Sudan, marriage involves a payment called bride wealth that is paid in cattle. The marriage is considered valid only when the entire amount is received. This practice highlights that marriage is not just a bond between two people, but also a connection between their families. 
•  In India, the dowry system is often used by families to either keep or elevate their social status. Unfortunately, this tradition has resulted in serious social issues, including violence related to dowries. Through the teachings of N.P. Kishore Sir, students will learn about the complexities of this sensitive topic. 
•  The Tiv people from Nigeria have a unique practice known as bride service. This means that the groom must work for the bride’s family as part of the marriage agreement. This is an interesting example of non-monetary payments in marriage, which N.P. Kishore Sir explains in detail during his anthropology classes.