# The Cost of Divorce explained — Getting Married

> Chapter companion for Getting Married by George Bernard Shaw.

## What happens

Shaw argues that current divorce laws are ineffective because they are prohibitively expensive, making divorce accessible only to the wealthy. He proposes making divorce as cheap, easy, and private as marriage, allowing either party to request divorce without stating reasons, and placing the power to dissolve marriage for misconduct with the state. He also advocates for treating domestic work as paid labor and warns against leaving law and religion to judges and bishops.

## Themes in this chapter

### Divorce and Legal Reform

Shaw critiques the current divorce system as class-biased and proposes radical reforms to make divorce accessible to all.

### Economic Dependence of Women

Shaw advocates for placing the work of a wife and mother on the same footing as other paid labor, addressing economic dependence within marriage.

## Key lines

> The very cheapest undefended divorce, even when conducted by a solicitor for its own sake and that of humanity, costs at least 30 pounds out-of-pocket expenses.

Even the most basic, uncontested divorce costs at least 30 pounds in direct expenses.

_Shaw highlights the financial barrier to divorce for ordinary people._

> Make divorce as easy, as cheap, and as private as marriage.

Divorce should be as simple, inexpensive, and discreet as getting married.

_Shaw's core proposal for divorce reform._

> Place the work of a wife and mother on the same footing as other work: that is, on the footing of labor worthy of its hire; and provide for unemployment in it exactly as for unemployment in shipbuilding or any other recognized bread-winning trade.

Treat domestic and maternal labor as paid work, with unemployment benefits just like any other profession.

_Shaw argues for economic recognition of women's unpaid labor._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/getting_married_se/chapters/the-cost-of-divorce
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/getting_married_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/getting_married_se/chapters