A study of attitude towards equality for women among undergraduate students and its relationship with their perception about dowry taking

The current research studies various aspects of attitude towards equality for women among undergraduate students and its relationship with their perception about dowry taking. A random sample of 240 (120 Males and 120 Females) is chosen for this study from Kolhapur district (Maharashtra, India). Two standardized tests – Rama Tiwari’s ‘Equality of Women Attitude Scale’ and R. Sharma’s ‘Dowry Attitude Scale’- are used.  In case of Dowry Taking, both Males and Females have shown negative attitude. The mean and standard deviation score for Males (N = 120) is M = 195.88 and SD = 29.54 while for Females (N = 120), it is M = 202.81 and SD = 26.23.  The t-value t (238) = 1.92, p = .06 has shown that there does not exist any statistically significant difference between them. In case of Equality of Women Attitude (EOWA), the mean and standard deviation score for Males (N = 120) is M = 71.19 and SD = 5.82 and the mean and standard deviation score for Females (N = 120) is M = 73.65 and SD = 4.23. The value for independent samples-t is t (217.27) = 3.74, p = .001. It has shown statistically significant difference between Males and Females and the mean score for Females is significantly higher than Males. The researchers have also calculated the correlation coefficient between Dowry Taking Attitude (DA) and Equality of Women Attitude (EOWA) for both, Males and Females. The significant and positive correlation between Attitude against Dowry and Equality of Women is observed in both groups. The r-value for Females is r = .38 (p = .01) and is comparatively higher than the r-value for Males, r = .26 (p = .01). The qualitative data is also collected through semi-structured interviews of 24 participants (12 Males and 12 Females), which constitutes 10 percent of the total sample. The themes focused in interviews are factors responsible for change in perception about dowry system, various new forms of exchanges during marriage, awareness of legal safeguards against dowry related crimes, measures to be taken especially at college level to enhance gender equality and anti-dowry outlook etc. Finally, researchers have suggested thrust areas for sensitizing undergraduate students regarding ill effects of Dowry Taking and fostering gender equality for better society.