relating to marriage or the relationship between married people
From Latin maritalis, from maritus 'married, husband', from mas 'male'
The word traces back to Mars, the Roman god of war - apparently the Romans thought marriage was a battle worth fighting!
Historically embedded assumption that marriage defines women's identity and legal status; coverture laws stripped married women of property rights and agency until late 19th/20th centuries.
Use 'marital status' only when relevant; consider 'relationship status' as broader, less presumptive alternative.
["relationship status","partnership status","family structure"]
Women's marriage equality in law (property rights, guardianship, divorce agency) emerged through feminist reform; acknowledge women fought for legal personhood beyond marital status.
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