‘Reverse Dowry’: Girl with 7LPA seeks groom with 50+LPA package

Dowries have been illegal in India since 1961, but even today bride’s family is still expected to gift cash, jewellery, household items, vehicles, and other things to the groom’s family. Paying and accepting dowry is a centuries-old tradition in South Asia.

Even though the practice is illegal, it continues to thrive. It is a known fact that thousands of women, especially those hailing from poor and middle-class families, go through unimaginable experiences due to this dowry practice.

However, with the advent of education and job opportunities over the decades, the dowry system seems to be taking a reverse. Nowadays, men in India are at the receiving end as women are looking for grooms earning more than 20- 50+LPA. Yes, you read right!

Netizens on social media have termed it as ‘Reverse Dowry’. While the bride might be earning less or coming from a middle class family, but they expect the groom to be having huge packages and be a top class doctor, engineer or bureaucrat and more.

One of my friend having only 7LPA package but searching for groom with 50+ LPA package.

Are we getting into reverse dowry kind of era?

— Satakshi Sharma (@not_satakshi) October 24, 2024

Taking to her X handle, an user identified as Satakshi Sharma shared, “One of my friends having only 7LPA package but searching for groom with 50+ LPA package. Are we getting into reverse dowry kind of era?”

As expected, her post gained crazy traction and went viral with over 1.6M views, sparking a debate online. Social media users agreed with her observation and shared their opinion in the comments section. A user pointed out that it was a deal between money and beauty. 

“If men are earning less they have to settle for average looking woman. Just like if men have lot of wealth, they will not compromise on beauty. Similarly if a woman is good looking she will not compromise on money. Average looking women are also rejected like poor men. Facts 🤷,” he shared.

Another user shared, “This has been going on for a long time, but the problem is that this tradition has not been criticized like dowry; on the contrary, people justify it.”

“Most women are married with the wrong guy for money and most men are married with the wrong girl for beauty. That’s how the society is today,” replied another user.