Well let’s that put that aside and agree for now that you could be right though your not about my situation .
Now what about that the bigger picture? It’s only in the Islamic faith or more so the Somali culture/faith where women receive thousands of dollars+ gold in some cases, and still remain financially dependent on the man for decades.
Isn’t this a clear sign of exploitation? If not then what till you call it.
Elitist
I don’t agree with the concept of meher and see it as buying a bride, however, it is a primordial culture practised by many cultures who aren’t Muslims. It happens in non-Muslim African countries like the Shona, Venda and Zulus tribes in South Africa, different clans in the Pacific Island like in Papua New Guinea and in many Asian countries like Thailand practice the meher. You could also find in the Hebrew culture which is based on their religion and is called ‘Ketubah’. The tradition of meher goes back to Ancient Mesopotamia and Greece. Therefore, it isn’t something unique to Islam and Somalis.
Within all these cultures, the men pay the mehr and arguably look after their women financially, were these men exploited? We are intentionally denying the role Somali woman play contributing financially to the welfare of their families. In the diaspora, more Somali women succeed than their male counterparts in education and thus become the major bread-winner for their families. Back home, you will see them everywhere selling stuff. They are importers, distributers and sellers of all kinds of businesses. Your argument that Somali men look after their women financially is partially true but inconclusive.
You sound bitter from your childhood experiences and decided to blame women for it. Get a good therapist will be my advice to you.