UN Women Anti Dowry Campaign Stirs Internet With Brutal Reality Of Marriage

Dowry has been laden upon women ever since patriarchy began. And patriarchy surely emerged with the concept of civilization. So, civilized men want a perfect girl at par with the standards of the time period in which they are seeking her. They, by default, think that a woman is not an asset herself and has no literal contribution to the family they are about to start. So, they expect her to bring a certain lump sum amount along with other material demands that they impose on her.

In a bid to raise a voice against the plague, Fashion Designer Ali Xeeshan has partnered with UN Women Pakistan to highlight the issue. He unveiled the collaboration during the Pantene Hum Bridal Couture Week.

His models, an adult groom and a young bride walked on the runway with a pull cart filled with goodies shocking the audience.

In another video posted by Xeeshan and directed by Abdullah Haris, the young bride pulls the heavily laden cart along with her groom seated on it and she is barely able to move it.

“It’s time to put a stop to this overburdening tradition!” read the post’s caption.

Earlier the campaign included Pakistani celebrities who came forward to spread awareness by writing ‘Jahezkhori Band Karo‘ on their hands. Jahezkhori was termed by UN Women for the campaign, combining jahez, meaning dowry, and khori, similar to bhattakhori or someone who extorts money from people.

Within days the pictures are now all over the internet stirring up social media.

There have been mixed reactions. Some applauded it while others criticized the fashion designer saying that he is campaigning against dowry while selling expensive clothes. This represented nothing but hypocrisy on his part.

Here are few responses:

This picture is so powerful, the dowry mongering needs to end! It hurts my heart how the family of a girl starts saving for dowry the moment a girl is born in a household and ends up broke 😣#StopDowryMongering #NumaishnaLagao #DowryFreePakistan – Rida Sharif

Great message. But capitalism remains undefeated. Whereas designer #AliZeeshan has put forth an applaudable message, but his very bridal dresses cost an arm and leg to the same bride’s family. 1 designer dress costs as much as the entire dowry. #SayNoToDowry  #CapitalismThrives – Aimen Akhtar

Such hypocrites. The same @ALIXEESHAN burdening parents by selling unaffordable dresses is educating society against dowry. Gareeb ka mazak urao. A good advertisement strategy, use social issues to gain the public’s attention to the newly launched “luxury” bridal wear. @reportpemra – Miqdad Sibtain

What’s your thought on this?