Dowry for Thailand and many countries are a part of traditional and culture. It’s manifest social value of that family and pride. It’s not only applied to farang married a Thai but also when Thai married a Thai.
Dowry in a wedding is a display of social acceptance and announcement so bride’s family is with joy and pride that their beloved their daughter is and will be taken care of by another men (another family of her own). The value of dowry both cash and commonly gold mostly display to confirm that the couple is the best of social standing.
Dowry (money) thai called “sin-sod” mostly give to the bride for her new family saving but for some poor family, the parent can take that money because thai way of life, we have no retirement or social security for elderly. Taken away their children mean less person or no one will left to take care of them when they’re old.
Dowry (gold) thai called “thong-mun” mostly for the parents as appreciation in bringing up their daughter who is now will be your beloved wife.
Some well to do family will NOT take any dowry after display in the wedding ceremony and give them back to the wedding couple as “saving” for their new family.
So, now you know dowry does NOT mean selling their daughter but it’s mean more than that. The more you can give, then the more you are valued as a “successful man and a successful couple”. You’ll be talk of the family and relatives and pride and joy of the elderly in your wedding.
Dowry in Thailand and even India are very social hierarchy. Thailand, it’s mean a man of lower social standard can upgrade or change social status by married another class. India, on the other hand, a woman can married a higher class man from her dowry.
In the old days, with dowry system, it would be hard for a common man to being able to display wealth to marry a woman over his own class.
Dowry for western who do not understand thinking it’s selling their daughter for a price tag is long has been misunderstood.
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