Abstract This paper examines the phenomenon of dowries in the UK as a contribution to patriarchal oppression for South Asian women in households. The research on which this paper is based, examines the intersection of gender and ethnicity with specific reference to South Asian women in Britain. The findings indicate that dowries are used to sell women as property in the arranged marriage relationship. Education and religion make a significant difference to women's responses on dowries. Highly educated women were either cohabiting with their partners or single and said dowries degraded women. Women with lower levels of education said dowries were part of the tradition, custom, and identity of South Asian people, these women had an arranged marriage and were given a dowry. As South Asian women become highly educated, they reject arranged marriages and the practice of dowries (private patriarchy) and enter the labour market (into public patriarchy).