other and father, the in-laws, had to decision to grant or deny divorce, uponagreement.37 To an extent, there were certain things, a woman did that could force ahusband to request a divorce. The husband would sign a bill of divorcement that namedone or more the seven recognized grounds for divorce. These reasons were the Zi Chu,the Seven Outs for a wife: One if she disobeyed his parents. Two if she could not bearhim any sons. Three, if she committed adultery with another man. Four, if she actedjealous and was unwilling to take in another women, or concubine. Five, if she wererepulsively sick. Six, if she gossiped and talked for a great deal. Seven, if the wifecommitted theft towards her in-laws, or her husband.38 Divorce for love, divorce formarriage to another man or woman, and alimony payment became accepted, morecommon, and fashionable in China. It was the thing to do, to end prearranged marriagesand the downed ways.39 The wifes in-laws would help pay alimony for each family: onethird of their income was reserved for themselves, one third was reserved for their sonand their new daughter-in-law, and one-third of the income for the old daughter-in-law.Adultery, one of the seven outs, began to form in some relationships, where the husbanddidnt care about his wifes other lovers.40 Families no longer consisted of the in-laws,husband, wife, and children but were varied. There were stepfamilies and people no longerlived all together in one large house. Each husband and wife lived with their children, whilethe in-laws lived alone in their own homes.41 Divorce left a lasting effect on a womanslife. Some were so disgraced by divorce that they committed suicide or left their familiesnever to return. Their only three options were prostitution, the nunnery, or suicide.42Abortions, became popular, along with divorce. Although it was life-threatening anddangerous, women did it regardless, out of contempt for the man they married.Desperate circum...
