1) In Victorian England before 1857, married women had few rights. A husband could take all his wife's earnings and inheritance, and divorce was very difficult to obtain through the Church of England unless she was wealthy. 2) Today in the 21st century, women have more legal rights and freedom regarding marriage, employment, and divorce. The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 granted women more property and financial rights. 3) In the Victorian era, there was no legal concept of divorce, though separation and remarriage did sometimes occur, as depicted in novels of the time like Sense and Sensibility.