The purpose of shabka and dower
Eighteen per cent of the male respondents said that the main purpose of the gold jewellery given to the bride, known customarily as the shαbkα, is to secure her financial rights, as it becomes her own property.
However, 36 per cent saidTable 1.10 Factors affecting level of dower (% of total) (males)
| Factors | Rural | Urban | Total |
| Bride’s beauty | 7∙5 | 16 | 23∙5 |
| Groom’s financial status | 11∙5 | 22.5 | 34 |
| Bride’s family’s financial status | 9 | 18 | 27 |
| Bride’s educational level | I | 6∙5 | 7∙5 |
| Bride’s professional status (i.e. whether or not she works) | I | 5 | 6 |
*Respondents were given more than one option, giving a total of over too per cent.
that if she had a good relationship with her husband, the wife should give up the shabka in the event that the household or her husband fell upon hard financial times. Twenty-one per cent of males in the sample said that the shabka proved the seriousness of the groom and his affection for his bride; only 7 per cent of the male respondents said that shabka had a part to play in establishing the status of the wife among relatives and neighbours.
As for the female respondents, a large proportion (54.5 per cent) saw the shabka as a kind of savings to be used in setting up the house, for the children’s needs, or for other household needs; 47 per cent said that it was to secure the wife’s financial interests and 32 per cent that it played an important role in establishing her status.
A slightly lesser number (30.5 per cent) held that it showed the seriousness of the groom and his affection for his bride.Table 1.11 Meanings given to the shabka
Female respondents
Male respondents
Value can be used in time of need Guaranteeing her financial interests Establishing status
Seriousness and affection of her groom
Value can be used in time of need Seriousness and affection of her groom Guaranteeing her financial interests Establishing status
Table 1.12 Purpose of the shabka (% of total)
| Purpose | Rural | Male | Female | |||
| Urban | Total | Rural | Urban | Total | ||
| Secure bride’s financial interests | 5∙5 | 12.5 | t8 | II | 36 | 47 |
| Asset for future | 14 | 22 | 36 | 14 | 40.5 | 54∙5 |
| Groom’s seriousness | 12 | 9 | 21 | 7∙5 | 23 | 3θ∙5 |
| Establishing status | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 32 |
The different meanings given to the shabka by men and women are shown in Table 1.11, in order of significance to the respondents, while the detailed breakdown of responses is in Table 1.12.
As for the dower, the largest proportion of both male (40 per cent) and female (55 Per cent) respondents held that the main purpose of the dower was as the husband’s contribution to furnishing the marital home.
Table 1.13 Purposeof dower (% of total)
| Purpose | Rural | Male | Female | |||
| Urban | Total | Rural | Urban | Total | ||
| Secure bride’s financial interests | 2 | 10.5 | 12-5 | 7 | 4∙5 | 11∙5 |
| Bridegroom’s contribution in furnishing home | H | 26 | 40 | II | 44 | 55 |
*Respondents were given more than one option, giving a total of over 100%.
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