Phase Two
UNSW researchers are studying perceptions and experiences of dowry, and particularly when dowry practices might become abusive for women from Indian communities who currently live in Australia (HC Number: HC210585). This includes women currently living in Australia who were:
- born in India
- born in Australia with an Indian cultural background
- or born in another country with an Indian cultural background
Phase 2 of this study involves interviews that will explore the lived experiences of women from Indian communities in Australia who have experienced dowry abuse, and the perceptions and experiences of their family and friends.
We invite you to participate in an interview if you meet the following criteria:
You are a woman who:
- is 18 years of age or older
- currently living in Australia
- of an Indian cultural background
- identifies as having experienced dowry abuse
Or you are a friend or family member of a woman who:
- is 18 years of age or older
- currently living in Australia
- is of an Indian cultural background
- has experienced dowry abuse.
Friends and family members must also be 18 years of age or older and have witnessed the dowry abuse to participate.
Examples of dowry abuse include but are not limited to:
- Ongoing demands for dowry (e.g., money, gifts).
- Pressure to provide expensive gifts or large sums of money as part of dowry.
- Denigrating comments or harassment about the quantity of quality of dowry brought.
- Punishment for “insufficient” dowry.
- Physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or other abuse in retaliation for “insufficient” dowry or for not giving in to demands for dowry.
- Threats to withdraw sponsorship for visa, or actual withdrawal of sponsorship for visa, if dowry is not provided or if the woman does not ask her parents for more money or gifts.
- Individuals who are currently at risk of violence, abuse, harm or severe distress from circumstances such as current domestic and family violence and the effects of trauma, current crisis, acute mental illness, or recent suicide attempt/suicidality.
- Individuals who have not separated from the abusive partner and/or who are living with family members who are also perpetrator(s) of the abuse.
- Individuals who wish to complete the interview in relation to dowry abuse that is currently ongoing.
- Individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness.
- Individuals who have current involvement in court, tribunal or administrative proceedings related to the abuse or their relationship with the perpetrator(s) (e.g. ongoing child custody, family law, or immigration proceedings).
If the interview is proposed to be conducted over the phone or online via a video conferencing platform because this is the participant’s preference or due to COVID-19 or other restrictions, the participant must also have access to a safe phone line or safe internet to participate.
Participation in this study is voluntary. You do not have to participate.
If you decide to participate in this Phase, you will be asked to take part in an interview with a member of the research team.
The interview will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.
The interview will include questions about:
- If you are sharing your own experience of dowry abuse or someone else’s.
- Where the dowry abuse happened (e.g. in Australia, overseas).
- The importance of dowry in the community.
- What you think about dowry as a custom.
- What you feel about the way dowry happens.
- Your experiences and thoughts about the dowry abuse.
- What experiences you or your friend or family member have had in getting support.
To find out more about the interview, download the Participant Information Statement and Consent Form. If you are interested in participating in an interview, please contact Sara Singh at 0468 956 642 or sara.singh@unsw.edu.au.
Your contribution to the research will help us understand perceptions and experiences of dowry and where dowry may be experienced as abusive. In doing so, it will inform support and responses for women who have experienced dowry abuse.