A Sociology textbook for nurses is receiving flak on social media because it lists the merits of dowry in one of its chapters. The textbook titled 'Textbook of Sociology for Nurses' by TK Indrani lists down pointers as to why dowry is beneficial.
It starts by explaining how dowry helps in establishing a new household and how it is helpful to set up appliances, furniture, utensils, and clothes in a house. It goes on to say that dowry is an indirect way for the girl to get a share in the family's property.
The next point talks about how it promotes education among girls because the dowry of a highly educated girl is relatively lesser.
The last, perhaps the most bizarre point explains that an "ugly girl" can be married off with the help of a handsome dowry.
A picture of this extract from the textbook was shared on Twitter by a user named Aparna, and has since then received many reactions.
'Take Strict Action': DCW Letter to Edu Min
DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal on Tuesday, 5 April, wrote a letter to Union Education Minister Dhramendra Pradhan over the misogynist passage and sought strict action against the author for glorifying the dowry system.
Maliwal also sought penal action against the concerned officials involved in approving the textbook for nursing students.
The DCW has asked the Government of India to set up a national task force with a specific mandate to come up with sector and domain-specific interventions to achieve the objective of making all curricula gender-inclusive and sensitive. It called for the concepts of consent, respect for women, their legal rights, and the negative impact of crimes against them to be included in the curriculum.
'Slow Claps', 'Making Me Sick': How Social Media Reacted
Social media users have called out how the textbook is not only promoting false ideas but is also offensive to women. Others have talked about how it is illegal under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and is still being glorified by this book. Here are some reactions from Twitter.
Ever since the post has gone viral, the Indian Nursing Council (INC) has issued a statement condemning such "substandard" content. "INC strongly condemns any derogatory content which is against the prevailing law of the land," it said.
Here is the full statement:
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