Men were “cheating constantly” with “most” having mistresses? That’s a pretty bold claim. Unless you’re referring solely to the idle rich in which case that statement might have some bit of truth, the idea that it was widespread is just a feminist anti-marriage fantasy.
well obviously having more time and money provides more opportunities.
And obviously a married couple living out in the woods has fewer issues than one living in a city, especially with the man working outside of the home.
I am not sure of course of the percentages, but I think it is fair to say that men tend to be wired more for cheating than women, and given the opportunity due to circumstances they will cheat more.
Society was rigged against married women historically. Women were more or less considered the property of the man, much the same as children were considered the property of the father (which is why a dad “gave” away his daughter in married to another man who would then be her owner. The marriage ring (which originally only women wore) signified slavery, and that you were “owned” by a man.
Women could get a divorce even back in the day, but they would have lost everything, and weren’t even allowed to open bank accounts, own property, sign a contract or work in many cases. This is what kept the divorce rate down, not “no fault divorce”.