Why does the legal system force a separated father to become destitute?

Why is it that the British courts favour the woman so heavily? I refer to cases where the father is paying childcare costs and has a total income well below that of his ex, resulting in him being unable to meet his financial obligations or to afford to rent a property (his ex having being awarded the former shared home and all of its contents) - and no possibility of raising funds to apply for a mortgage. I am a woman and I am at a loss as to understand why the law enables a separated mother to live a luxurious lifestyle entirely funded by others, whilst her ex partner is crippled financially for the rest of his life. It happens over and over again.