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.
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.

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