~A Vintage Dowery~

A dowry is money, property, or goods that a woman brings as a gift to her husband upon marriage. The practice of using a dowry, also known as trousseau, is a custom that has been around for centuries and was most commonly practiced in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Modern times have seen this practice fall by the wayside because of abuse suffered by women as a result of misuse of the practice. Historically speaking, a dowry was a way of providing a woman with a portion of her family’s wealth, which she would not otherwise be entitled to by inheritance. Additionally, a dowry was believed to be the best way to protect a woman from suffering abuse or ill treatment by her husband. The use of a dowry was combined with a bride price, or rather an amount of money or property the groom would pay to the bride’s family in exchange for her marriage to him. Though the dowry became the property of the husband, the woman would inherit the dowry should she become a widow. Conversely, should the woman die, the dowry, less the cost of the bride price, would be inherited by her own natural born children.

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dowery vintage

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