Payment Of Bride Price Research Articles

Bride Price Payment and Domestic Violence-Perspectives of Husbands in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

Bride Price Payment and Domestic Violence-Perspectives of Husbands in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

Bride price payment and marriage Stability: An ethnographic study of the Brifors of the Upper West Region, Ghana

A bride price creates an unending bond for married couples in sub-Sahara Africa. This gesture is key within the Brifor cultural milieu in Ghana. This paper investigates the impact of bride price on marriage stability among the Brifor ethnic group. In-depth interviews were conducted with 45 Key Informants and seven defined groups. The results show that the cultural demands of high bride price payment among the Brifors stabilizes marriages, secures the entitlement right of the husband to the woman and children, but increases incidences of violence against women. From the results it is evident that apart from the high bride price payment contributing to marriage instability, there is also the indication that the abuse of the rights of wives depends largely on the character of the husbands, including the cultural mindset instilled in them through biological traits and/or family socialization in relation to their culture. The study concludes that although most participants felt that the practice of paying bride price should be reviewed, it was evident that the payment has become a double-edge sword confronting women in particular, relative to the stability or instability of marriages among the Brifors. Therefore, there is the need for traditional authority to reform the practice by reducing the bride price items and spacing out the payment period as a respite for husbands-to-be.

A sweet burden? The effect of bride prices on parents' health

AbstractThe bride price, as an informal institution originated from traditional culture, is pervasive in many areas of the developing world in a form of a payment from the family of the groom to that of the bride at marriage. We study the effects of bride price on parents' health in China. Using information on bride price payment and various health measures from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we find that the bride price significantly reduces self‐reported health among the grooms' parents after addressing the endogeneity issue with average sex ratio within a family computed as an instrumental variable. The reductions are heterogenous across urban and rural areas. Mechanism analysis suggests the negative health outcomes are driven by family debt, heavier psychological stress and longer work hours caused by bride price payments.

An Analysis of Climate Change Threats to Cultural Practices: A Case Study of the Dikgale Community, South Africa

Scientists and policymakers are failing to account for the influence of climate change on many facets of cultural life. Much emphasis is placed on the effects of climate change on agriculture, with less emphasis placed on how low crop and livestock output may affect socio-cultural activities. The current study investigated the effects of climate change on the socio-cultural practices of the Dikgale community in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 150 participants purposely selected in a rural community. The study’s findings revealed that cultural activities that foster communities’ cohesion are already under threat from the effects of climate change. Temperature fluctuations and irregular rainfall negatively impacted cultural festivities such as the First Fruit Rituals, Rain-making Rituals, Cultural Entertainments, and bride price payment. To complete the rites and meet marital requirements, subsistence crops and cattle are used. Poor subsistence crop and livestock production has left the rituals obsolete, and as a result, these customs are rarely practised and have been supplanted by western practices. If this cultural heritage is lost, rural communities will lose significant social, cultural, and economic values. The study contributes to the less documented intangible cultural heritage dimensions impacted by climate change. Keywords: Climate Change, Socio-Cultural Practices, Cultural Heritage, Limpopo Province

The influence of bride price on the marriage quality of Chinese women and its differences between urban and rural areas

The practice of bride price payment has a longstanding history in China and has become a customary procedure by which men are able to get married. Despite attracting significant research attention due to the escalating bride price amount, few studies have focused on its impact on marriage quality. Using data from the 2020 Beijing and Chengdu Household Survey, this study examined how the bride price amount affects women's marital quality, including marital happiness, marital relationship quality, and exposure to domestic violence, based on three theoretical perspectives: marriage repayment theory, marriage endowment theory, and marriage signal theory. The study also incorporated interaction terms to investigate potential differences in the effects of bride price on women's marital quality between urban and rural areas. The results indicate that the current bride price practice is more aligned with the marriage endowment theory and has a statistically significant positive effect on urban women's marital happiness and relationship quality, but no effect was observed in rural areas. The influence of the bride price amount on the frequency of domestic violence against women also varied between urban and rural areas. Because men in rural areas face a disadvantage in the marriage market and there is a scarcity of available women, they are less likely to resort to domestic violence to manage marital conflicts when paying a higher bride price.

The Impact of Bride Price Payment on Women’s Autonomy in Marital Relationship in Ankpa, Kogi State, Nigeria

The Impact of Bride Price Payment on Women’s Autonomy in Marital Relationship in Ankpa, Kogi State, Nigeria

How gender-based cultural practices violate women's property rights and inhibit property ownership: A South African perspective

This article discusses the effect of gender-based cultural practices on women's property rights in South Africa and how this impacts on women's ability to own property – particularly land. The cultural practices discussed include those relating to customary marriages such as payment of brideprice and polygamy. They also include the practices of levirate marriages and male premogeniture. These practices are linked to the unequal position of women in society, and they do not only prohibit women's access to property ownership but they also infringe their constitutional rights. To that end, the constitutional protection of the right to equality in relation to property rights is discussed and suggestions are made on how the Constitution can be used to protect women's property rights. The role of the courts in protecting women's property rights is particularly highlighted. Specific reference is made to the significance of section 39 of the Constitution which requires a court to interpret the Bill of Rights in a way that promotes “the values that underlie an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom” and obliges the courts to consider international law when interpreting the Bill of Rights. Indeed the article concludes that denying women's rights to property under the guise of culture is discriminatory and offends against fundamental and intrinsic human rights. It is proposed that courts should be encouraged to draw inference from international law as mandated by section 39 of the Constitution as this will, in all likelihood, see more women enjoying independent rights in property.

The contribution of social norms and religious practices towards low death registration in 3 HDSS sites of Uganda

BackgroundUganda has low levels of death registration, estimated at two per cent by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). There are 56 tribes and over 5 religious denominations with so many social norms and religious practices that could have contributed to low death registration in Uganda. Previous studies on the factors affecting death registration have not assessed the contribution of social norms and religious practices toward low death registration in developing countries.MethodsA qualitative study design was adopted to examine the contribution of social norms and religious practices toward low death registration in the 3 Health and Demographic Surveillance systems (HDSS) sites of Uganda. The methods of data collection included: focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a document review of the death registration booklet. 6 FGDs, 2 from each HDSS site were conducted comprising 1 female FGD of 10 participants and 1 male FGD of 10 participants. In addition, 26 key informant interviews were conducted with the district leaders, local council leaders, health care workers, cultural leaders, elderly, HDSS scouts and religious leaders in the 3 HDSS sites.ResultsIn the 4 sub-counties and 1 town council where the study was conducted, only 32 deaths were registered with NIRA, the Civil Registration authority in Uganda for the entire year from 1st January to 31st December 2020. The study shows that social norms and religious practices have contributed to the low death registration in the 3 HDSS sites in Uganda. Social norms and religious practices either hinder or discourage death registration initiatives by the government of Uganda. It was found out that burials that take place on the same day of death discourage death registration. Cultural taboo to announcing the death of infants, neonates, twins and suicides in the community hinder death registration. The burying of a woman at her parent's house after bride price payment default by the family of a husband discourages death registration. The religious institutions have their own set of rules, practices, and norms, which in most cases discourage death registration. For example, religious leaders refuse to lead funeral prayers for non-active members in religious activities. Results also showed that mixed religions in families bring about conflicts that undermine death registration. Lastly, results showed that traditionalists do not seek medical treatment in hospitals and this hinders death registration at the health facilities.ConclusionThe study shows that death registration is very low in the 3 HDSS sites in Uganda and that social norms and religious practices contribute greatly to the low death registration. To overcome the negative effects of social norms and religious practices, a social behaviour campaign is proposed. In addition, community dialogue should be conducted to identify all negative social norms and religious practices, how they are perpetuated, their effects, and how they can be renegotiated or eliminated to bring about high death registration in the 3 HDSS sites of Uganda. Lastly, there is a need for partnerships with cultural and religious leaders to sensitize community members on the effect of social norms and religious practices on low death registration in the 3 HDSS sites in Uganda.

Zero-dose children in Turkey: regional comparison of pooled data for the period 1990 to 2018

BackgroundImmunization plays a vital role in child health and survival. Zero-dose children are coming increasingly into focus as part of the global Immunization Agenda 2030. Although the percentage of zero-dose children has decreased in Turkey over time, regional/socioeconomic inequalities persist. This study aims to analyze the trend in zero-dose children and the factors associated with this problem in Turkey in light of regional inequalities.MethodsSix data sets (1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018) were pooled from the last six Turkey Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHSs). The vaccination module for children aged 12–35 months and variables related to household characteristics, socio-economic, cultural characteristics of parents, bio-demographic/health-related factors were taken from the DHS data. Binary logistic regression analyses were carried out by taking into account the complex sample design of surveys for Turkey in general, the East region, and other regions.ResultsSignificant progress has been made in reducing the number of zero-dose children in Turkey over the last three decades, as it has dropped from 3.2 to 0.9%. The results of multivariate analyses revealed that survey year, household wealth, the mother’s level of education, payment of bride price, mother’s native language, place of delivery, and the number of antenatal care visits are associated with zero-dose children. Factors associated with zero-dose children also differ between the East region, and other regions.ConclusionPublic health programs targeting uneducated parents, poor households, lack of social security, Kurdish-speaking mothers, older mothers and those without antenatal care should be implemented to promote childhood immunization.

Livestock ecosystem services and disservices in a medium-sized South African town

ABSTRACT Production of livestock in urban spaces is a common phenomenon globally, particularly in the Global South. Livestock provides multiple benefits to society yet its production in urban spaces can result in adverse impacts to residents that can trigger conflicts. Understanding of the ecosystem services and disservices of livestock from the perspectives of residents can inform inclusive local management plans. Using household surveys and key informant interviews, this study sought to examine the contribution of livestock to owners, and perceptions of livestock services and disservices among non-livestock owners and key informants in Makhanda, a medium-sized South African town. Livestock owners derived multiple benefits from their livestock, including provisioning services such as meat, milk, skins and draught, and use livestock and livestock products in cultural activities such as rituals, bride price payments and funerals that are key elements of local identity. Among residents, there were marked differences in perceptions on the services and disservices of livestock which points to potential conflicts over urban land use and the need for addressing trade-offs. A key trade-off for local municipal authorities is addressing hunger and poverty by supporting well-regulated urban livestock production versus managing potential livestock disservices such as injuries to humans, livestock-vehicle collisions, health hazards and damage to urban green infrastructure. The trade-offs should be understood and considered by local authorities and residents as a basis for collectively developing strategies that can integrate livelihoods and cultural realities to balance competing demands for urban spaces including livestock production and other uses.

Genderized Implications of Bride Pricing Culture in Igbo Land

The study aims at ascertaining the actual implication of bride pricing system in traditional marriages in Igbo land. A total of fifty respondents (thirty women and twenty men) from the five states that make up the southeast zone in Nigeria were selected for the study. Being a qualitative research, the study adopted the ethnographic research design and employed a purposive non-probability sampling method in selecting the respondents. The study made use of focused group discussions, unstructured interview and participants’ observation method as instruments of data collection. The collection of data lasted for a period of six months from June 2020 to November 2020. The research is anchored on Radical and Snail sense Feminism theories and data for the study were analysed using descriptive thematic method. Findings from the study reveal that payment of bride price does not reduce women to mere commodities in Igbo land. It also reveals that it gives undue privileges to men in Igbo land among other findings. Finally, it was shown that Igbo men and women still regard bride price payment as an important aspect of their culture which should not be abolished.

Bride price and Christian marriage in Nigeria

Payment of bride price is a popular tradition in Nigeria as in most parts of Africa. However, in Nigeria, the practice has virtually lost its traditional purpose of marriage validation and honouring because of the commercialisation by many parents. For this reason, some critics have called for a cancellation of the custom, as it has turned women to commodities to be bought and sold. This article examined the purpose of bride price in the traditional African setting, the changes that have crept into the practice over time, and the desirability or non-desirability of bride price payment for Christians in Nigeria. The article employed the exegetical method for the study of the relevant texts and, using the descriptive approach, it gathered and utilised material relevant for bride price payment, as practised in Nigeria. The author found that payment of bride price is not prohibited in the Bible. In the traditional African society, bride price served mainly as the legal exchange that validated marriage. It was discovered that charging exorbitant bride prices by Nigerian parents obliterated the original purpose of the custom. Commercialisation of bride price in this way is partially responsible for the increasing rate of late marriages and non-marriages amongst Christians. The inability to pay high bride prices had created a situation whereby young Christian men and women cohabit without legally getting married. Exorbitant bride price sometimes leads to domestic violence against women. It is for these reasons that some have considered payment of bride price unchristian, whilst others have called for its abolishment. Nevertheless, this study concluded that as payment of bride price is not prohibited in the Bible, it is not wrong for Christians to pay and receive bride prices. Moreover, if its traditional purpose is adhered to, payment of bride price need not cause women abuse. Its cancellation would amount to doing away with the original purpose of the practice, particularly the legitimisation and honouring of marriage. Therefore, rather than abolishing bride price, one would call for a return to its original purpose. More than recognising the value of bride price, the church in Nigeria has the responsibility to educate Christian parents on the adverse implications of charging exorbitant bride prices. Contribution: This article is a contribution in ethics of Christian marriage. It is relevant for educating Nigerian Christian parents against charging excessive bride prices.

Bride Price Payment and Justification of Sexual Violence Among Women in Ghana*These authors contributed equally to this work.

Although insights on bride price and domestic violence have been explored in Ghana, very little is known about payment of bride price and the justification of sexual violence. We investigated the payment of bride price and justification of sexual violence among women (N = 4,222) in Ghana, dwelling on the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Two binary logistic regression models were fitted. We adjusted for significant sociodemographic variables. The findings revealed that women whose partners had paid their bride price had higher odds [OR = 1.54; CI = 1.174, 2.00] of justifying sexual violence, compared to those whose partners had not paid. We found that women with primary [AOR = 0.55; CI = 0.44-0.71] and secondary/higher [AOR = 0.47; CI = 0.36-0.60] levels of education had lower odds of accepting sexual violence. Women in the rich wealth quintile [AOR = 0.32; CI = 0.22, 0.46] had lower odds of justifying sexual violence. Our study has illustrated the need for women to appreciate that payment of bride price does not imply that their fundamental human rights have been bought by men, but they rather become partners. This information can form part of premarriage counselling and human rights initiatives by the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection. That is, the content of marriage counselling may be expanded to include issues on IPV, its implications, and legal consequences. Such information can develop personal realization and urge women to report any violent advances to the police and appropriate authorities for the required legal action to be taken. This may deter others to desist from violence perpetration against women. At the community level, chiefs and other leaders of high repute can be made anti-IPV ambassadors. The Ministry of Health and other nongovernmental anti-violence organizations can also collaborate to strengthen education on anti-sexual violence programs by using the mass media.

Adverse shocks, household expenditure and child marriage: evidence from India and Vietnam

Child marriage is associated with negative outcomes in regard to education, health and economic empowerment in later life. While the consequences of child marriage have been studied extensively, there has been limited discussion on the drivers of child marriage. This paper examines the impact of adverse shocks on child marriage. We use a sample of 886 girls between 12 and 18 years of age from India and Vietnam involved in the Young Lives project. The potential endogeneity problem is addressed by using rainfall deviation as the instrument. We find that in Vietnam, where bride price payment is a common practice in the event of expenditure reduction resulting from adverse shocks, a household may consider marrying off their daughter as a possible coping strategy. In contrast, in India where dowry payments are common, shocks may reduce the probability of child marriage, possibly, because a girl’s family is unable to meet the dowry requirements. These findings are robust to alternative ways of measuring child marriage, expenditure and rainfall deviation. We recommend that policies designed to reduce child marriage are considered in the context of cultural and social norms.

Bride Price and Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Women: A Case Study of South Africa and Nigeria

This paper studies the effect of bride price on the realisation of the sexual and reproductive health rights of women in South Africa and Nigeria. It adopts the doctrinal research method by reviewing the nature and form of bride price in South Africa and Nigeria. The paper also considers the legal framework for sexual and reproductive health rights of women in South Africa and Nigeria and the consequential effects of bride price on the sexual and reproductive health rights of women in the two countries. It argues that the payment of bride price inhibits the realisation of the sexual and reproductive health rights of women entrenched in various international instruments which both South Africa and Nigeria are signatories and their respective domestic laws. The paper submits that men in the society should be educated that the payment of bride price does not translate to buying their wives but as a mere token to show their gratitude in anticipation for the gift of a wife. Payment of bride price should be seen as a mere cultural observation without the ulterior motive of subjugating the woman. Keywords: Bride Price, Women, Sexual Rights, Reproductive Rights, Nigeria, South Africa DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/96-04 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Why men invest in non-biological offspring: paternal care and paternity confidence among Himba pastoralists.

Paternal investment is predicted to be a facultative calculation based on expected fitness returns and modulated by a host of social predictors including paternity uncertainty. However, the direct role of paternity confidence on the patterns of paternal investment is relatively unknown, in part due to a lack of research in populations with high levels of paternity uncertainty. Additionally, much of the work on paternity certainty uses cues of paternity confidence rather than direct assessments from fathers. We examine the effect of paternity assertions on the multiple measures of paternal investment in Himba pastoralists. Despite a high degree of paternity uncertainty, Himba have strong norms associated with social fatherhood, with men expected to invest equally in biological and non-biological offspring. Our behavioural data show patterns that largely conform to these norms. For domains of investment that are highly visible to the community, such as brideprice payments, we find no evidence of investment biased by paternity confidence. However, more private investment decisions do show some evidence of sex-specific titration. We discuss these results in light of broader considerations about paternal care and the mating-parenting trade-off.

Bride Price and Female Education

Traditional cultural practices can play an important role in development, but can also inspire condemnation. The custom of bride price, prevalent throughout sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia as a payment by the groom to the family of the bride, is one example. In this paper, we show a perhaps surprising economic consequence of this practice. We revisit one of the best-studied historical development projects, the INPRES school construction program in Indonesia, and show that previously found small effects on female enrollment mask heterogeneity by bride price tradition. Ethnic groups that traditionally engage in bride price payments at marriage increased female enrollment in response to the program. Within these ethnic groups, higher female education at marriage is associated with a higher bride price payment received, providing a greater incentive for parents to invest in girls' education and take advantage of the increased supply of schools. However, we see no increase in education following school construction for girls from ethnicities without a bride price tradition. We replicate these findings in Zambia, where we exploit a similar school expansion program that took place in the early 2000s. While there may be significant downsides to a bride price tradition, our results suggest that any change to this cultural custom should likely be considered alongside additional policies to promote female education.Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.

Introduction

Introduction

Towards the inculturation of marriage rituals in the National Baptist Convention of Zimbabwe

In this article, we seek to give a missiological critique of the inculturation of marriage rituals in the National Baptist Convention (NBC) of Zimbabwe. We examine and explore the inculturation that could help expedite greater engagement between the NBC of Zimbabwe and the Shona and Ndebele cultures in Midlands and Matabeleland regions. The challenges facing the inculturation of marriage rituals are examined. We use missiological research methodologies that include the seven-point praxis matrix propounded by Kritzinger. The praxis matrix is used as a grid of missiological questions in qualitative paradigms. A case study design and sample of fifteen research respondents from six of the thirteen denominations are used. The sample includes the National Executive members, pastors, elders, deacons, church committee members and lay member. Interviews and observations are the instruments. The findings reveal that Convention members regard inculturation of marriage rituals important. They inculturated payment of bride price, ululating, dancing, and marrying someone whose background is known since they are biblical. Polygamy, divination and ancestor veneration is rejected. Kusungira ritual and conducting marriage rituals in November is controversial. Inculturation is hindered by fear of syncretism, clash of doctrines, expensive and oppressive and many ethnic groups in the Convention. It is recommended that the Convention encourages payment of bride price and carefully handles controversies surrounding marriage rituals. The preaching and teaching against views that perpetuate patriarchy subordination of women by men men in the society and the fusion of the church and traditional wedding ceremonies should be encouraged.

The Transformation of Hierarchy Following Christian Conversion in Vanuatu

ABSTRACTIn this paper, I use pig-killings as an entry for understanding the transformation that has taken place with respect to hierarchy and egalitarianism in Vanuatu. In the early twentieth century accounts by John Layard there is a thorough description of the cosmological and spiritual meaning of pig-killings in the manly hierarchy of these islands. The entire society was consumed in a sacrificial cycle that each lasted for six years and involved the killing of many hundreds of pigs, the most valuable acting as substitutes for human beings. At the peak of the ritual, the greatest of men stood up on a stone platform and announced their increased status and thereby joined the ranks of the society of ancestors. Comparing this with the situation today, there is absolutely no build-up of super-human status in ceremonies. On the contrary, I argue that today, pigs are being killed, cows are being butchered and cooked, yams and taro are displayed and distributed in great quantities, and huge sums of money figure in bride price and ceremonial payments, but not for the purpose of gaining spiritual power. They instead express bilateral connections, and form a redistributive system of production. In a development linked to the introduction of Christianity, monetary value and colonial labour regimes, ceremonial life has made an almost unnoticeable turn against the former hierarchical order.