Diving into how divorce laws came about helps explain why the system feels so broken. Plus, custody laws — and how they’re adjudicated — can have life-defining effects on women and children. Hosts Gina Brillon and Kimberly Brooks delve into how divorce and custody laws affect women unevenly across the states and the changes that could improve these laws.

Visit TheStateofWomenpod.com for more information on the podcast and ways to take action in the fight for women's rights. 

Need support and advice for thriving beyond divorce check out SAS for Women. If you are a victim of domestic violence or assault and need divorce support go to Women’s Law for support. For help with domestic violence, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) or email legal questions: https://hotline.womenslaw.org/public.

“The State of: Women” is produced in collaboration with Population Media Center, Clamor, and Reasonable Volume. Episodes written by Elise Hu. Executive Producers are Gina Brillon, Kimberly Brooks, Lisa Caruso, Alex Demyanenko, Adam Reynolds, Allison Chesneau, Elise Hu, and Rachel Swaby. The series was created by Lisa Caruso & Alex Demyanenko.

Producers are Erica Lowy and Maddie Zampanti. Associate Producers are Lillian Holman and Justin Cho. Editing by Maddie Zampanti and assistant edited by Justin Cho. Audio Engineer is Claire Reynolds. Research by Bethy Squires. Fact-checking by Carmel Dagan. Original cover art by Jazmine Johnson and Match Zimmerman.

PMC’s Impact and Partnerships Strategist is Charity Tooze. PMC’s Manager of Creative Development is Dominica Ruelas. Additional special thanks to June Neely of PMC and Aaron Hilliard and Molly Cody of Clamor.