Pregnant women can’t get divorced in Missouri
“It just doesn’t make sense in 2024,” said Democratic state legislator Ashley Aune
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Democrats in Missouri are attempting to overturn a decades-old law that bans women from getting divorced while they are pregnant.
Since 1973, Missouri statute has refused to allow any divorce to be finalised while the wife is carrying a foetus, so that questions of custody and child support can be decided before the couple fully split.
Now Ashley Aune, a Missouri state representative, has introduced legislation that would overturn the ban, according to Fox 4 Kansas City.
"It just doesn’t make sense in 2024," Ms Aune told the outlet, citing recent testimony from a woman who had been unable to divorce her abusive husband.
“Not only was she being physically and emotionally abused, but there was reproduction coercion used. When she found out she was pregnant and asked a lawyer if she could get a divorce, she was essentially told no.
"It was so demoralizing for her to hear that. She felt she had no options."
The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, a non-profit based in Jefferson City, backed the new law, saying it could "literally save lives".
Abusive partners, said chief public affairs officer Matthew Huffman, frequently use "reproductive coercion" to control their partners, keeping them pregnant in order to prevent them from getting a divorce.
After Fox 4 published its story on Monday, it – and the existence of Missouri's pregnancy divorce ban, which was unknown to many people – quickly went viral on Reddit and X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.
There are no exceptions for domestic violence, Fox 4 added.
Arkansas, California, and Texas reportedly have similar laws, while other states make it technically possible but realistically difficult to divorce while pregnant.
Ms Aune has previously criticised Missouri's Republican state legislative majority for passing a dress code that required women to cover their arms in the chamber.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments