Why would a Jewish woman marry through a religious ceremony, knowing she risks becoming an agunah for life? Her husband can go insane and remain alive for life. He can run away, dump her, etc.., without giving her a get. Whereas with a civil marriage (or a pilegesh marriage), there is no risk of becoming an agunah.
Here is the latest news, which appear to support the reality behind the above question, from the JPOST:
BILL SEEKS TO PUBLICLY SHAME MEN REFUSING TO GIVE DIVORCEBill Seeks to Publicly Shame Men Refusing to Give Divorce “Women denied a divorce may as well be dead,” MK Revital Swid said. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Bill-seeks-to-publicly-shame-men-refusing-to-give-divorce-507124
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RABBINICAL COURT INFRINGES ONRabbinical Court Infringes on US CIVIL JURISDICTION INCivil Jurisdiction in 8-YEAR AGUNAH CASEyear Agunah Case "The Rabbinical Court of Jerusalem has reversed itself not once but twice over issues of jurisdiction regarding the case of an eight-year aguna, and is now enabling her estranged husband to condition his granting of a divorce on the division of assets from the marriage.
"Lawyers for the aguna say that the case is a classic example of the problematic phenomenon of rabbinical courts tying the right of a woman to get divorced to her acceptance of a financial settlement, essentially acquiescing to and even abetting the extortion of women." http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Rabbinical-court-infringes-on-US-civil-jurisdiction-in-8-year-agunah-case-499686
