Women today are educated but illiterate in terms of knowing their rights properly. Another harmful practise is the dowry system where gift of money or valuables given by the bride's family to the groom's at the time of their marriage. This is the new harassment in the name of wedding gift. Women are killed if they brings less dowry after marriage.

The term bride burning is criticized within India itself. India has a low sex ratio, the chief reason being that many child die before reaching adulthood. They are aboted in the womb itself as many people do not want a girl child because they cannot pay dowry. This is a vicious circle which is linked to one another. It is somewhere a criticism that highest female ratio lies in Kerala and tribal societies in India knowing the fact that tribal communities have far lower levels of income, literacy and health facilities.