Editing Wife (section)

====Contemporary status====
In the 20th century, the role of the wife in Western marriage changed in two major ways; the first was the breakthrough from an "institution to companionate marriage";<ref>"Companionship marriage" and "companionate marriage" are synonyms (the latter being the older one), although the term usually refers to a relationship based on equality, it might instead refer to a marriage with mutual interest in their children, {{cite web |url=http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2827/information_show.htm?doc_id=290368 |title=The Future of Children - Sub-Sections |access-date=2007-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712030304/http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2827/information_show.htm?doc_id=290368 |archive-date=2007-07-12 }}</ref> for the first time since the Middle Ages, wives became distinct [[legal entities]], and were allowed their own property and allowed to sue. Until then, partners were a single legal entity, but only a husband was allowed to exercise this right, called [[coverture]]. The second change was the drastic alteration of middle and upper-class family life, when in the 1960s these wives began to work outside their home, and with the social acceptance of [[divorce]]s the single-parent family, and [[stepfamily]] or "blended family" as a more "individualized marriage".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2827/information_show.htm?doc_id=290368|title=Stepfamily as individualized marriage|access-date=2 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712030304/http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2827/information_show.htm?doc_id=290368|archive-date=12 July 2007}}</ref>

Today, some women may wear a [[wedding ring]] in order to show her status as a wife.<ref>Howard, Vicki. "A 'Real Man's Ring': Gender and the Invention of Tradition." ''Journal of Social History''. Summer 2003 pp. 837–856</ref>

In Western countries today<!--like the [[United Kingdom]] pro KEEP:source from that area, pro HIDE: Source underlines Western tradition exemplified by a uk, non-national source-->, married women usually have an [[education]], a [[profession]] and they (or their husbands) can take time off from their work in a legally procured system of [[ante-natal care]], statutory [[maternity leave]], and they may get [[maternity pay]] or a maternity [[allowance (money)|allowance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkAndFamilies/DG_10026556|title=Pregnant employees' rights|work=direct.gov.uk}}</ref> The status of marriage, as opposed to unmarried pregnant women, allows the [[spouse]] to be responsible for the child, and to speak on behalf of their wife; a partner is also responsible for the wife's child in states where they are automatically assumed to be the biological legal parent.<ref>Cuckoo's egg in the nest, Spiegel 07, 2007</ref> Vice versa, a wife has more legal authority in some cases when she speaks on behalf of a spouse than she would have if they were not married, e.g. when her spouse is in a coma after an accident, a wife may have the right of advocacy.<ref>The restrictions of her abilities to do this vary immensely even within a legal system, see [http://www.seniorlaw.com/fishman.htm case NY vs. Fishman] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220202903/http://www.seniorlaw.com/fishman.htm |date=2007-02-20 }}, 2000</ref> If they [[divorce]], she also might receive—or pay—[[alimony]] (see [[Law and divorce around the world]]).