Swiss Husbands Controlled Marital Assets

Before Switzerland reformed its marriage law in 1985, a husband could sell the family home or cancel a tenancy agreement without his wife's approval, manage assets she had brought into the marriage, and even forbid her from working. The government moved to change these rules, but a conservative committee forced the new marriage and inheritance law to a national referendum. In September 1985, only 54% of voters supported the reforms. Had only men voted, as was still the case nationally until 1971, the old marriage law would have remained in place.

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