Deserted Women and the Law in Colonial South Australia

Abstract

<p>The article examines the plight of deserted women in colonial South Australia, focusing on the legal and social challenges they faced in securing support from their husbands. We discuss the the Maintenance Act of 1843 and the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1858, which aimed to provide legal recourse for women abandoned by their spouses. Despite these legislative efforts, the enforcement of such laws proved difficult, as many husbands absconded or were imprisoned, leaving their families in dire financial situations. The article highlights individual cases that illustrate the broader societal issues of desertion and the struggle for women to achieve financial independence in a restrictive labor market.</p>