dowry

This is a culturally determined form of transfer of possessions at the occasion of a marriage. The goods are given by the father or relatives of the bride to the father of relatives of the bridegroom, or the couple. The dowry is supposed to help the couple start their own household. If her husband dies, a dowry provides the widow with a source of financial support.

In cultures in which daughters are excluded from inheritance, the dowry can also be seen as a kind of advance inheritance.

A dowry is a passive thing, something decided among men – such as father and husband.

Symbolism: the picture shows the artist wearing a black tschador, a purposeful look, and gold-coated hand grenades as jewelry. The background shows the American flag.

Religious symbols, especially Islamic symbols or images found in the mass media, convey a variety of different meanings, most of them subliminal. They are not just associated with Islam as a religion, but also Islam as a militant movement, often characterized by a refusal to adopt the value system of the host country. Head scarves and veils are usually viewed as symbols of the oppression of women in Islam, while equal rights for both genders is seen as one of the cornerstones of liberal democracy in the West.