Until shockingly recently, married women didn't legally exist in America—and remnants of that law still affect your life today.
The legal doctrine was called "coverture." Under coverture, which the United States inherited from English common law, a woman had no independent legal identity. At birth, a female baby existed only under her father's legal identity. When she married, her legal personhood transferred to her husband. She was "feme covert"—a covered woman, her identity completely subsumed. The husband and wife became one person in the eyes of the law. And that one person was the husband. This wasn't metaphorical. It was absolute legal reality with devastating consequences. Because married women didn't legally exist, they couldn't: Own property Sign contracts Operate businesses Sue or be sued Keep their own wages Make wills Serve on juries A married woman owned nothing. Not her clothes. Not her jewelry. Not money she earned. Not inheritance from her parents. Everything belonged to her husband by law. If she worked and earned wages, her husband owned them. If she inherit...