It's something that most people on this side of the world have likely only encountered on television, film or in books but for millions of people in places like India and across Southeast Asia and Africa, Dowry is a fundamental part of marriage.
Dowry is a transfer of wealth, in some form, from the household of the bride to the groom, the payments are large, often more than a year of earnings.
Despite the fact that they were outlawed in India in 1961, dowry payments still feature in around 80% of marriages.
It's a complex tradition, fraught with concerns of women's welfare even from birth but despite legal bans and an increase of education, it's still very much a part of millions of people's culture.
Speaking to Dermot and Dave, Gaurav Chiplunkar from the University of Virginia and co-author of 'Marriage Markets and the Rise of Dowry in India', explained how dowry works, the concerns around it and how it could change in the future.
You can catch the chat by clicking play above.
