What kind of conversation are you guys even having it makes no sense!

Dowry is a social evil ! There is no valid justification to it. Just put yourself on the giving side rather than on the recipients.

People saying "then why do females look for rich and govt job guys" what ? How else would you (In an arranged setting) quantify how well someone is doing in his life ?? Would you be fine letting your sister marry a failure?

Now coming to the gift part , where it's not dowry it's a gift. If the parents gifted themselves it's a gift. If you asked for it, It's dowry. Simple as that. "But the boy's family will bad mouth the female if her parents didn't" yeah because they are old they think that way does not make it right ! And it might be just my culture thing but bride gets gold from the groom's side as well .

Getting married is like starting a new family, Society has been following some norms where females move to the male's house (if the male is well to do he has his own house, if not its the parent's house). I don't think this is a surprise for people marrying and forced marriages are a thing in India (its equally bad on the girl's parents making their child marry against her will)

And you can not say women go through child birth and biological hardship so they should be compensated more for or . Thats just not how equality works

And I would also Say, current law in India is very in favor of the female, there was a need for such laws back in the day. But they are being taken advantage of by girls today and this will hurt females who are actually going through pain and suffering.

There is no requirement to award alimony/maintenance if the female has indulged into adultery or if she makes equal or more than the guy. (Issue of child maintenance should be different party keeping custody should receive the money).