In Jewish law, a woman who is unable to remarry because her husband is missing or refuses to grant her a religious divorce (get).
From Hebrew agunah, meaning literally 'anchored' or 'chained' woman, from the root agoun (to bind or tie up). The term reflects the Talmudic perspective on the woman's situation.
The concept of agunah reveals how religious legal systems can create unexpected hardships. It's remained relevant for centuries because the underlying problem (what happens when someone disappears?) is genuinely complicated without modern records and communication.
Agunah (Hebrew: 'chained woman') designates a woman halakhically bound to marriage when her husband disappears, refuses divorce, or dies without witnesses. The term and its application have historically trapped women in legal limbo without recourse, reflecting patriarchal control over marriage dissolution in Jewish law.
Use with historical context: this term describes a specific legal status that primarily affects women. When discussing modern applications, note ongoing efforts by Jewish communities to reform these laws and protect women's agency.
["abandoned spouse (legal status)","wife without divorce release (Hebrew law context)"]
Women scholars and activists within Jewish communities have led reform movements (including the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot) to challenge these restrictions and restore agency to women unable to obtain gittin (divorces).
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