Almost always, my neighbor’s bike is parked in the garage in a haphazard fashion. It is because he has got the bike as part of his dowry. Because he hasn’t earned the bike, he does not respect or take care of his bike. Because he got his bike along with his wife, he thinks the same about others too! He never respects other neighbours’ or my bike. He carelessly hits and scratches others' bikes, parks carelessly so that other bikes have no space left and so on.
What’s unfortunate about this dowry-induced lack of respect for others’ property is that it is passed down the generations. Now, my neighbour’s 6 year old son has a small cycle. He parks it exactly the same way as his father. He scratches our bikes the same way as his father. The six year old will grow up and may ask for a dowry. He may get a car along with a wife (because girls’ parents lack a spine). He will park it carelessly and encroach into others’ spaces. He will scratch others’ bikes, cars and self-respect.
This is the story of one manner in which patriarchy continues to live on in this country.
What’s unfortunate about this dowry-induced lack of respect for others’ property is that it is passed down the generations. Now, my neighbour’s 6 year old son has a small cycle. He parks it exactly the same way as his father. He scratches our bikes the same way as his father. The six year old will grow up and may ask for a dowry. He may get a car along with a wife (because girls’ parents lack a spine). He will park it carelessly and encroach into others’ spaces. He will scratch others’ bikes, cars and self-respect.
This is the story of one manner in which patriarchy continues to live on in this country.
