For much of American history, getting divorced as a woman was less of a right and more of a legal obstacle course. Before no-fault divorce, one spouse had to be officially “at fault” for a marriage to end, with reasons like abandonment, abuse, infidelity, or impotence. Translation: if you wanted out, you had to prove it. But it was costly and often impossible to prove, keeping men in control. California became the first state to adopt no-fault divorce in 1970, and while all 50 states now have no-fault divorce laws, New York was the last state to follow with a no-fault statute in 2010. Sometimes, progress takes the scenic route.

And up until April of this year, a pregnant woman in Missouri could not get divorced in the state. How was this even a thing? A 1973 law required couples filing for divorce to disclose whether the wife was pregnant. It was originally meant to hold fathers financially accountable, while also streamlining the process for child support and custody agreements. But because custody for an unborn child cannot be finalized before birth, judges and lawyers used the law as a reason to delay the entire divorce until after the baby was born. Women were being tied to marriages during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, reinforcing deep structural inequality.

This matters, especially for women trying to leave abusive marriages. Pregnancy can be one of the most dangerous times in an abusive relationship. One in six women who experiences abuse is first harmed during pregnancy. Homicide is the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., and among the top causes in Missouri. American women are at greater risk of being murdered during pregnancy or right after a child is born than any of the top three maternal causes of death, like hypertensive disorders, hemorrhage, and sepsis. Further, Missouri is second only to Mississippi for the highest rate of gun violence against pregnant women. Yet despite these statistics, in Missouri, a pregnant woman could not be granted a final dissolution of marriage. 

Women in Missouri were being held in marriages during one of the most physically, financially, and emotionally vulnerable periods. For survivors, that delay could mean returning home to the person they were trying to escape. “I felt absolutely defeated in that moment," recalls one woman when she was told she could not get divorced until she had her baby. Instead, she returned to the home she shared with her abusive husband and continued to endure his violence. Prior to giving birth, she spent the night sleeping on a tile floor in their basement because it was the only room that had a lock. Earlier in her marriage, she had been raped by her husband and forced to have her second child: “I think he knew that it would keep me as his property.”

Laws like this can reinforce reproductive coercion, where one partner uses pregnancy, children, or reproductive decisions to maintain power over another person. That can include interfering with birth control, rape, tracking their wife’s cycle, forcing pregnancy, or making it harder for someone to leave by increasing financial and caregiving dependence.

That’s what makes this new law so significant. In April 2026, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed legislation clarifying that pregnancy cannot prevent a court from finalizing a divorce or legal separation. The law takes effect August 28, 2026.

The bill had bipartisan support and was shaped by lawmakers, including Rep. Ashley Aune and Rep. Cecelie Williams, a domestic violence survivor who had been denied a divorce while pregnant. Her story helped make clear what the issue was really about: safety, autonomy, and the right to leave. And while Missouri has made progress, statutes like this still exist in Texas and Arkansas. A larger question remains: how many laws still limit women’s freedom under the guise of procedure?

A woman should stay in a marriage because she chooses to, not because the legal system makes leaving harder. And pregnancy should never be used as a pause button on her safety, autonomy, or future.

If you've ever been in a rut, you might find yourself thinking, "I need a change of scenery." Science agrees with you. Researchers studying Nobel Prize winners found that scientists who moved locations or worked from multiple places began their breakthrough work up to 2.6 years earlier than those who stayed put. Our environments shape our habits, attention spans, and creativity by exposing us to new conversations, routines, and perspectives.

And no, this doesn't require booking a sabbatical to the South of France (though we support your journey!). The answer to feeling stuck is likely not to work harder. It may just be: go somewhere new. And if you don't know where to start, World of Hyatt's Find Experiences turns points into something genuinely different, like a truffle hunt in Hungary capped off with a chef-prepared dinner from what you find.

Presented by Hyatt. Sometimes the fastest way to reset is to change your surroundings. Learn more here.

Katie Jacobs Stanton is the Founder and General Partner of Moxxie Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that backs founders building products and companies with a mission to make life and work better. Previously, she held roles at Google, Twitter, Yahoo!, and Color Genomics. She has also served in the public sector working for the Obama White House and the U.S. State Department. She has been on Forbes’ list as the 56th most powerful woman in the world and sits on the Board of Directors for Vivendi and Time Magazine.

What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?

I'm in this bizarre world of fit people and I go to yoga every day. I was grimacing while watching everyone do all these tricks that I couldn’t do. The instructor saw my face and said to me, “Katie, perfect is boring. It's just yoga.” I found it incredibly helpful and applicable to so much in my life. Comparison is the thief of joy. It’s about learning that progress, experimentation, and being the best version of yourself are far more important than perfection. In venture capitalism, it's not about perfect conviction, but taking in as much information as you can and doing the best with what you have.

What was a heartbeat moment for you in your career?

It was when I started Moxxie. I was moving from operating to investing; it was like going from a team to a solo sport. It was a huge leap for both myself and my career. It was terrifying, but it’s also why I called it Moxxie, which means courage. 

When you start out you will get a lot of rejections and it’s not just a “no,” it’s a “no” to you directly. But you have to know that it’s a game of numbers, and you need to keep moving forward and learn from each experience. It’s been such an incredible gift to build this team in order to empower and back the next great generation of founders.

Who is one person you’d love to give flowers to from your career that influenced your journey? What advice or lesson did you learn from them?

I would give flowers to Chris Sacca, who I worked with early at Google. I left to work for the government, and he started a venture capitalist firm called Lowercase Capital. He invited me to be a limited partner, and I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t even understand what a venture fund was. Chris is incredibly smart, curious, has a big heart, and he hustles. It was my first foray into venture capitalism and he taught me so much. So when I started Moxxie, I shared with him that I was leaning toward joining a venture fund. Chris asked me, “Where’s your courage? You know how to do this.” And when he first saw my deck, he called me out for putting my picture and background last. He said, “Katie, everyone is investing in you. You have to put that first, even if it makes you uncomfortable. You have to get comfortable with it.” He even introduced me to my husband! He’s a full-service friend.

Where have you caused some good trouble in your career?

I've always believed it's really important to stand up for what you believe in. It's easy to stay quiet about challenges and avoid unnecessary attention. For example, when Alex Pretti and Renee Good were killed by ICE in Minneapolis, I spoke publicly about it. These two people lost their lives for exercising their First Amendment right. I think it's important for people who have privilege and influence to speak out when things are wrong, and we have to continue to do that so we can make a more positive impact.

Want to nominate a leader you admire? You can do so here.

On September 30, Marketing Brew Summit returns for year five, and the agenda reads like a highlight reel: Netflix on building fandom beyond the screen, Pinterest on the Coachella activation that started by locking up everyone's phone, Reddit on brand creative that stops sounding like brand creative, and Liberty Mutual on how an emu became a business strategy. Grab your ticket here.

Janis Gilman of The Female Quotient weighs in:

While it can sound like a very sticky situation, don't panic. Looking for a new opportunity doesn't make you disloyal, it makes you thoughtful about your career. If your boss finds out you're exploring what's next, the best approach is to be honest, calm, and professional. You don't have to apologize for investing in your future. Instead, frame the conversation around growth: "I've been reflecting on where I want to grow next, and I'm exploring what that could look like."

If you're happy in your current role, this can also be an opportunity to have an honest conversation about your goals. You may discover there are new opportunities, responsibilities, or career paths within your current organization that you hadn't considered. If you're certain it's time to move on, stay focused on doing great work until you leave. The way you exit a role becomes part of your reputation, just as much as the way in which you performed in it.

Most importantly, remember that careers are journeys. Every step teaches you something, introduces you to someone, and prepares you for what's next. Lead with integrity, communicate with kindness, and never let fear keep you from pursuing the future you deserve.

P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.

Leadership can make or break your work experience. It's no surprise that more than half of our LinkedIn community said transparency is the leadership trait that builds the most trust. Trust isn't built by having all the answers, it's built by making people feel informed, included, and valued. Employees can navigate uncertainty, but they can't navigate silence. According to a global study, people are 5x more likely to trust leaders who are willing to be vulnerable. When leaders communicate openly about what they know, what they don't, and what's ahead, people are more engaged, productive, and likely to stay.

The second most-selected trait was consistency (26%), and the two go hand in hand. Transparency tells people where they stand; consistency reassures with what to expect tomorrow, too. Together, they create psychological safety, strengthen trust, and give employees the confidence to do their best work. As management author Victor Lipman put it, “Few management attributes can be as stress-inducing for employees on a daily basis as not knowing what’s expected of you, or what kind of management mood will await you from one day, or moment, to the next.” People don't expect leaders to know everything but they expect leaders to tell them the truth.

Here’s to women having choices, including the choice to leave.

Xo,

The FQ

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