‘Why doesn’t she just leave?’ Roman divorce as a deterrent to intimate partner violence

New Chapter by our Research & Training Coordinator, Dr Ash Finn, Explores Roman Divorce and Intimate Partner Violence.

Trigger Warning: This chapter discusses domestic violence and abuse, which may be distressing for some readers. Please proceed with caution.

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new chapter by our Research & Training Coordinator, Dr Ash Finn, in the special edition Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, Domestic Violence and Vulnerability in the Roman World: Setting the Scene.

The chapter, titled 'Why doesn’t she just leave?’ Roman Divorce as a Deterrent to Intimate Partner Violence, critically examines the long-held assumption that the ease of divorce in Roman law served as a deterrent to intimate partner violence (IPV).

Dr Finn’s research challenges the belief that Roman divorce was quick and financially harmful to abusive husbands. Instead, the paper argues that women often faced lengthy and complex divorce processes, frequently pressured to stay in abusive marriages and adapt their behaviour to appease their husbands. By exploring these dynamics, the chapter sheds light on the limitations of Roman divorce as an effective deterrent to IPV.

This research provides important insights into how legal and social barriers in ancient Rome mirror the challenges survivors of intimate partner violence face today, emphasising the ongoing need for systemic change in addressing domestic abuse.

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Download and read the full chapter.

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