A brief history of divorce - Rod Phillips

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Formally or informally, human societies across place and time have made rules to bind and dissolve couples. The stakes of who can obtain a divorce, and why, have always been high. Divorce is a battlefield for some of society’s most urgent issues, including the roles of church and state, individual rights, and women’s rights. Rod Phillips digs into the complicated history of divorce.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Rod Phillips
  • Director Chintis Lundgren, Gerta Xhelo
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Sound Designer Draško Ivezić
  • Music Draško Ivezić, Luigi Boccherini
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Historically, there were many barriers to divorce. To learn about some of the challenges couples faced to get a divorce, read this essay by Ohio University and this article by Wall Street Journal. The no-fault divorce laws removed some gender-based inequalities and made divorce more accessible. Just as divorce has a long and complicated history, so does marriage. Watch this TED-Ed lesson to learn more.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Rod Phillips
  • Director Chintis Lundgren, Gerta Xhelo
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Sound Designer Draško Ivezić
  • Music Draško Ivezić, Luigi Boccherini
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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