Widow

[13] There remains controversy over whether women or men are worse off, and studies have attempted to make each case, while others suggest there are no sex differences.

[17] In some parts of Europe and Latin America, including Russia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Mexico, widows used to wear black for the rest of their lives to signify their mourning,[18] a practice that has largely died out.

Orthodox Christian immigrants may wear lifelong black in the United States to signify their widowhood and devotion to their deceased husband.

After the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 in India, the status of widowhood for Hindu women was accompanied by a body symbolism[19] - The widow's head was shaved as part of her mourning, she could no longer wear a red dot sindoor on her forehead, was forbidden to wear wedding jewellery, had to keep her bosoms uncovered and was expected to walk barefoot.

[20] In some parts of South Asia, a woman is often accused of causing her husband's death and is not allowed to look at another person as her gaze is considered bad luck.

[22] In the folklore of Chiloé of southern Chile, widows and black cats are important elements that are needed when hunting for the treasure of the carbunclo.

(Hebrew Bible, Book of Deuteronomy 16:14)[25] In 19th-century Britain, widows had greater opportunity for social mobility than in many other societies.

Along with the ability to ascend socio-economically, widows—who were "presumably celibate"—were much more able (and likely) to challenge conventional sexual behaviour than married women in their society.

[27] It is also uncommon for widows to challenge their treatment because they are often "unaware of their rights under the modern law…because of their low status, and lack of education or legal representation.".

Those refusing to be cleansed risk getting beaten by superstitious villagers, who may also harm the woman and her late husband's children.

[37] In 1489, Seongjong condemned a woman of the royal clan, Yi Guji, when it was discovered that she had cohabited with her slave after being widowed.

While illegal, since most marriages are conducted under customary law and not registered, redressing the issue of property grabbing is complicated.