Manava Dharmashastra 5.145

5.145

svātantryaṃ strīṣu kasyāṃcidavasthāyāṃ nāstītyupadeśārthaḥ | vayovibhāgavacanaṃ tu yatrāsyāḥ pāratantryaṃ tatpradarśanārthamavivakṣitasvarūpam |

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
The sense of the teaching is that under no circumstances should there be independence for women. The mention of the various stages of her age, is meant only to indicate where she has to be dependent upon others, and no significance is meant to attach to it.—(145).