I find it entertaining how much marriage rules have changed over the years, yet it seems to be a long-standing human practice that is not terribly sensitive to

I find it entertaining how much marriage rules have changed over the years, yet it seems to be a long-standing human practice that is not terribly sensitive to asymmetric risks or downsides. It seems no matter how unconscionable a contract it may look like on the surface for the wife or the husband (depending on when and where in history) it persists in widespread use.