THE REAL COST OF 'BRIDE PRICE'

New research has revealed the negative impact ‘bride price’ is having on women’s lives in Uganda.  The report, funded by the British Academy, uncovers the domestic violence and impoverishment  which is being fuelled by this common practice in African countries whereby material goods or money are paid by a groom to a bride’s family upon their marriage.  The study is the first of its kind.

Although bride-price operated beneficially in the past to give formal recognition to marriages and to stabilise partnerships, key findings from the research identify the serious effect the tradition is having on gender equality, early or forced marriage, HIV/Aids, as well as landlessness and homelessness for women.

While consideration was given to the important role that bride-price has as a valuable, cultural tradition, the overwhelming majority of respondents in the study suggested that the practice required reform.

As the first-ever study on bride-price, poverty and domestic violence in Uganda, the research was conducted in response both to the growing interest in the practice of bride-price, and to moves for its reform in Uganda and other African countries. Some reforms have already taken place, and it is hoped that this research will help to inform and catalyse future progress in both Uganda and in Africa as a whole.

Funded by the British Academy, the study was carried out by Professor Gill Hague from the Violence Against Women Research Group (now the Centre for Gender and Violence Research)  at the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol and Dr Ravi Thiari at Warwick University in collaboration with MIFUMI, an organisation set up to protect women and children from violence in Uganda. 

Professor Gillian Hague said:

This was a pioneering piece of research, the first of its kind on bride price, poverty and domestic violence in Ugandan communities. It was a piece of trans-national participatory action research avoiding Western ‘dominance’.

While bride-price is a traditional cultural practice of value, the research also found disturbing connections with domestic violence and poverty. In Uganda, the study is contributing to reform efforts at both local and national level.

Notes

For a copy of the report: Bride-price, poverty and domestic violence in Uganda, or interviews, please contact:  Kate Turnbull, Press and PR Manager on 0207 969 5263.

• The British Academy contributed funding for the research through a large research grant.  The research commenced in Jan 08 and ended in June 2009 through an international collaboration between MIFUMI, an NGO and women's rights agency based in Uganda working on domestic violence and poverty alleviation, and two UK research groups, the Violence Against Women Research Group (now the Centre for Gender and Violence Research), University of Bristol, and the Centre for the Study of Safety and Well-being, University of Warwick.  For more information on British Academy research funding, please visit www.britac.ac.uk/funding
• The British Academy, established by Royal Charter in 1902, is the national body that champions and supports the humanities and social sciences. It aims to inspire, recognise and support excellence and high achievement across the UK and internationally.   For more information, please visit www.britac.ac.uk

< back to news listing