In fundamentalist circles, divorce is typically not an option. We've heard time and time again that this is why Anna Duggar will stay by Josh's side regardless of what the outcome of his trial may be.
Some fundamentalist women, however, take control of their own destiny and walk away from their marriages. Jessa Seewald's own sister-in-law is now among them. Jessica Seewald, sister of Ben Seewald, has filed for divorce from her husband of two years, Dwight Philip Lester.
The decision isn't thrilling other members of the Seewald family, who see Jessica's behaviors as increasingly rebellious.
Jessica Seewald is proving that divorce doesn't have to be off the table in fundamentalist marriages. Ben Seewald's little sister has filed for divorce from her husband of two years, Dwight Philip Lester. The divorce was filed in May.
As we know from the Duggars' own ups and downs, divorce is frowned upon in fundamentalist circles. The Seewalds hold beliefs very similar to those of the Duggars, so they can't be too happy about this development. We now know what led Jessica, a police officer who met Dwight during her training, to the difficult decision.
The divorce filing obtained by The Hollywood Gossip says that Jessica and Dwight's date of separation was April 16, 2021. She is seeking divorce based on being subjected to "personal indignities destroying the legitimate ends of the marriage such that the Plaintiff can no longer reside with the Defendant as man and wife."
According to Arkansas law, personal indignities can be defined as "spouse consistently manifesting such rudeness, hate, abuse, and neglect" that make a spouse's life "intolerable."
In the divorce, Jessica is asking that her last name be restored to Seewald. The couple don't have any children. Dwight has not officially responded to the filing.
Jessica and Jessa haven't always seen eye to eye. Jessa went along when Jessica was picking wedding dresses and commented one of the dresses seemed "a little low."
"I think we may have some slightly different convictions as far as what women should wear and what they shouldn't wear," Jessica later said of Jessa's remark.
The Seewald family hasn't publicly commented on the split, but Jessica isn't hiding it. She's scrubbed her ex from her Instagram and is moving on.
