But their protests have been received with apathy, and, in some instances, with contempt by legislators.

Only last year a determined fight was made by the women of California for a law giving them equal guardianship of their children.
The women's bill was lost in the California Legislature, and lost by a large majority.
What arguments did the California legislators use against the proposed measure?
Identically the same that were made in Massachusetts and New York a quarter of a century ago.

If women had the guardianship of their children, would anything prevent them from taking the children and leaving home?
What would become of the sanctity of the home, with its lawful head shorn of his paternal dignity?
In California a husband is head of the family in very fact, or at least a law of the State says so.
At one time the law which made the husband the head of the home guaranteed to the family support by the husband.

It does not do that now.

There are laws on the statute books of many States obliging the wife to support her husband if he is disabled, and the children, if the husband defaults.