Burden of Non-Marriage of Girl Child on Parents: A Case Study of Indian Middle Class Muslim Family

Non-marriage of girl child is a big social problem in India, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Middle class families are the worst victim of this social malady. Although there are several causes of non-marriage, but the prime cause of this is dowry. It has become the precondition for marriage. In some societies, it is taken in cash and in some society, it is taken in kind. As far as Muslim society is concerned, dowry is taken in kind, but in some cases in cash. The parents become frustrated when their girl reach marriageable age. Considering this notion in mind, this study was conducted to assess the level of depression of fathers and mothers who have not married their daughters. For this, 60 fathers and mothers who have married/not married their daughters were selected from Hazairbag district of Jharkhand (India) though purposive sampling technique. The sample was divided into two parts-30 fathers/mothers who had married their all daughters and 30 fathers/mothers who have not married their all daughters. Two scales-Personal Data Sheet (PDS) and Beck Depression Inventory was administered on them. Procured data was analyzed with the help to M, SD and t ratio. It was found that fathers who have married their daughters and not married their daughters are statistically different on level of depression (t=3.65). Furthermore, it was also found that mothers who had married their all daughters and not married their all daughters are statistically different on level of depression (t=2.60). It means non marriage of daughters imposes depression of father/mothers.