Don

The only way a wife might lose her dowry was thru evidence proving adultery as decided by 3 judges or over time repeatedly not preparing food and clothes or marital rights as decided again by 3 judges.  The husband could also lose his money this latter way if he neglected his responsibilities.

Almost all the divorces in the time of Jesus were Hillel “Any Matter” divorces as these did not need any proof of anything, but the wife kept her dowry in this case.  Only a man could divorce this way.

I agree there was an asymmetry in favor of the husband and Jesus corrected that.