In India, among Hindus especially, asking for dowry is a punishable crime. In spite of that it happens all the time. The parents of the girl are pressurized to provide so so much and in some areas, the quantity is based on the education of the son. So it’s like selling your son.
In Islam, what you give to your daughter is hers to keep and it depends on how much you can afford.
But still we see influences from the Hindu culture where parents are stressed because of the demands from the other side.
Why?
When a guy is ready to get married, shouldn’t he be able to at least afford a bed for god’s sake? What his wife brings is bonus, gifts or acts of goodwill to help start their new life but shouldn’t really be a requirement, should it?