Does this prove women were not as oppressed as feminists claim?

Question

At the same time, John Potter, one of the most influential men in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, had left his wife Margaret in dire straits. Margaret petitioned the State Assembly for support because her husband was "destitute of all congugall love towards her and . . . gone from her." John was arrested and granted a divorce from Margaret on 27 June 1665 after making provision for her for the rest of her life, whereupon he promptly married the redoubtable Herodias Hicks. They evidently lived happily together until her death in 1712. These early cases are notable as they seem to favor women.
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In 1643 the Boston Quarter Court allowed Anne Clarke to divorce her husband. Denis Clarke signed an affidavit in which he admitted abandoning his wife for another woman, and having two children with each woman. He refused to return to his wife leaving the Court no choice but to punish him and grant his wife a divorce. The Quarter Court's final decision read: "Anne Clarke, beeing deserted by Denis Clarke hir husband, and hee refusing to accompany with hir, she is graunted to bee divorced."

True Blue Brit · Accepted Answer

In 1938 my grandmother was abandoned by her husband who left her with four children, destitute.  She divorced him, was made a social pariah and her children were put into care because her ex husband did not pay child support.  What exactly does your story prove?

Steve H · Answer

Those two cases individually don't prove that women weren't as oppressed as feminists claim, yet they are good examples of women being more empowered than the feminists would have us believe.

Some of the most powerful people in history were female. To name a few: Cleopatra, Indira Gandhi, Joan of Arc, Empress Wu Zetian, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Victoria, Hatshepsut, Empress Theodora, Catherine the great, Queen Boudica.

Feminists jump up and down about how badly women have been treated throughout the eons, yet look what is happening to men here and now: 
She gets bored of her husband, casts him out of the family home, gets primary custody of the children and permanently gains all the family assets for herself. Leaving him with spousal / child support payments and having to rent some caravan or cheap apartment. It's absolutely outrageous and it makes Westernised women unmarriageable.

So if you're a woman and want to be married to your long term partner yet he's reticent, now you know to blame the extremist feminists because it almost certainly is their fault!

trai · Answer

A park ranger named Roy Sullivan was stuck by lightning seven times. In his old age, he committed suicide.

Does that prove that being struck by lightning is both very common and not potentially fatal?

No, it doesn't.

Bill · Answer

You notice it says "These early cases are notable", meaning they are unusual. In the first case it says "making provision for her for the rest of her life", but the others don't mention any alimony or child support.

xpatinasia · Answer

No it does not.

Does this prove women were not as oppressed as feminists claim?

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