In plain sight? Reconsidering the linkage between brideprice and violent conflict

Cook, Scott; Thies, Cameron G.

doi:10.1177/0738894219863254

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…As Eves (2019) notes 'the inflation of brideprice has negative consequences, including the marginalisation of men who cannot afford to compete' and the creation of debts that must be repaid 'with the burden of earning the money often falling on the woman herself'. Yet, like Cook and Thies (2019), who found 'no robust relationship' between brideprice and political violence, we urge caution in attributing genderbased violence directly either to brideprice or brideprice inflation, when such violence may ultimately be attributable to wider frustrations arising from unmet aspirations in the face of market forces and growing socio-economic inequalities.…”

Section: Is There a Connection Between Gender-based Violence And Bridmentioning

confidence: 78%

Brideprice and Prejudice: An Audio‐Visual Ethnography on Marriage and Modernity in Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Henry

Vávrová

2020

Oceania

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The relationship between bridewealth and women's autonomy is not only discussed amongst anthropologists, development practitioners and other scholars but also amongst brides themselves. Women continue to embrace such marital exchanges, despite their knowledge of 'modern' development discourse about the constraints of the practice on women's status and its links to gender-based violence. This paper provides a visual exploration of contemporary brideprice practices and women's autonomy in Mt Hagen. We draw on scenes from our ethnographic film (An Extraordinary Wedding: Marriage and Modernity in Highlands PNG) to explore deliberations and developments that occurred in the case of a particular marriage that took place in 2012. We argue that the institution of brideprice has the potential to enhance the visibility of some women and the importance of their contribution to their own and husbands' kin groups. Despite current tensions regarding brideprice, it can serve as an avenue for the enhancement of women's political participation. The particular brideprice exchange featured in our film, raised concerns for the participants, which we consider in terms of three questions: Does brideprice commodify women? Does it play a role in gender-based violence? Is it inimical to aspirations for modernist individuality? We discuss the importance of bekim ('return gift') and suggest that this practice challenges the notion of brideprice as a commodity transaction. We argue that, while there may be an association between brideprice and gender-based violence, brideprice, in and of itself, is not causative of violence. The marriage represented in the film, and discussed in this paper, reveals the creativity of participants in adjusting the values inherent in the customary practice of brideprice to their contemporary aspirations.

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Section: Is There a Connection Between Gender-based Violence And Bridmentioning

confidence: 78%

Brideprice and Prejudice: An Audio‐Visual Ethnography on Marriage and Modernity in Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Henry

Vávrová

2020

Oceania

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“…If enough (young) women are born and married, men could simply marry younger women, implying a reduced or no shortage in brides. This argument has been put forward by Cook and Thies (2019) who look at bride price inflation (which should be a result of a marriage market squeeze) and associated political violence.…”

Section: Organized Unrestmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Anecdotal evidence from the Gulf countries supports this view: It is not (managerial) capabilities that are decisive for succession in family business, but family ties: the "scope for feuds is increased by the complexity of family structures, thanks to high fertility rates and occasional polygamy" (Economist 2016, Feb 4th).8 Note thatCook and Thies (2019) have challenged this view, as their empirical analysis does not find support for a link between rising bride prices and political violence in a cross-country study. However, as the data on bride prices on a cross-country level is scarce and time invariant, we do not think that their analysis can invalidate the findings byHudson and Matfess (2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Polygyny, Inequality, and Social Unrest

Krieger

Renner

2020

SSRN Journal

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Brideprice's Relationship to Conflict, Class, and Violence against Women

Johnston

2022

Journal of Global Security Studies

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Emerging research shows how brideprice facilitates conflict, as young men who cannot afford brideprice join armed groups. This article provides additional evidence for the role of brideprice in conflict, and shows how it facilitates three kinds of conflict: class conflict, interpersonal violence, and violence against women. In distinction to current approaches, this paper argues that brideprice's market logics are better conceived of as structured by gender and class inequality. Brideprice displays socioeconomic status and transfers wealth from poor to rich. Using ethnographic fieldwork undertaken in Timor-Leste, this article demonstrates that brideprice perpetuates socioeconomic inequality underpinning the Timorese class system. Recognizing the role of brideprice supports a clearer understanding of the continuum between conflict and violence.

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In plain sight? Reconsidering the linkage between brideprice and violent conflict

Cited by 4 publications

References 30 publications

Brideprice and Prejudice: An Audio‐Visual Ethnography on Marriage and Modernity in Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Brideprice and Prejudice: An Audio‐Visual Ethnography on Marriage and Modernity in Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Polygyny, Inequality, and Social Unrest

Brideprice's Relationship to Conflict, Class, and Violence against Women

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