Part 9/12:
The speaker acknowledges cultural variations, mentioning that in some societies like India, the dowry involved substantial contributions from the bride’s family to the groom's, aimed at ensuring a supportive and stable future. She emphasizes that such practices were often guided by the desire to protect women and to attract capable, supportive men—rather than exploitation.
She criticizes the equating of these customs with oppression, arguing instead that they served as means of mutual benefit and support—a way to "sweeten the pot" for promising partners.