Daughters of Durga: Dowries, gender violence and family in Australia (Manjula Datta O’Connor, MUP) 

With Daughters of Durga, author, psychiatrist and campaigner Manjula Datta O’Connor has written an impassioned and empathetic treatise on the abuses of a patriarchal system. It may surprise readers to learn that outdated patriarchal customs still make life intolerable for many Indian and South Asian women in Australia. In certain communities boys are prized and girls are treated as second-class citizens, even a potential threat to the honour of their fathers, family and society. They must be strictly kept in check. Marriages are organised and dowry payments expected from the bride’s family (even though dowry has been illegal in India since 1961). Some rogue families work virtual extortion rackets, demanding extra loot from the bride’s family. Brides who demur are harassed and abused. The terrible irony is that even well-educated Indian and South Asian women working in the professions can be subjected to societal pressure to be a ‘good woman’ and get married. While the single life might seem a preferred option, a woman who chooses to live alone is seen as ‘loose’ in some communities, and is subsequently more vulnerable to sexual assault. O’Connor’s research and knowledge of the subject is impeccable; her book is essential reading for anyone interested in gender politics, patriarchy and female emancipation. Daughters of Durga demonstrates that gender equality will not only improve the lives of women but will also free men from constraining male stereotypes.  

Chris Saliba is the co-owner of North Melbourne Books. 

Category: Reviews