Equal Rights Amendment

Definition

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution aimed at guaranteeing equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Originally drafted in 1921 and passed by Congress in 1972, the amendment sought to eliminate legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, employment, and other areas. The movement for the ERA gained momentum during the 1920s, a time when women were increasingly seeking greater rights and societal recognition following their suffrage victory.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The ERA was first introduced by Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party in 1921 as part of a broader agenda for women's rights.
2. Although the ERA passed Congress in 1972, it fell short of ratification by the necessary three-fourths of state legislatures by the 1982 deadline.
3. The 1920s was a pivotal decade for women's rights, as it marked not only the achievement of suffrage but also increased participation of women in public life and politics.
4. Key figures like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem emerged during the push for the ERA in the 1960s and 1970s, advocating for women's equality as part of broader civil rights movements.
5. Debates around the ERA highlighted tensions between traditional gender roles and emerging notions of equality, impacting subsequent feminist movements and legislation.

Review Questions

• How did the social changes in the 1920s contribute to the push for the Equal Rights Amendment?
  • The 1920s saw significant social changes that paved the way for the Equal Rights Amendment. With women gaining the right to vote through the 19th Amendment, many women began to seek further legal and social equality. This decade marked a shift in women's roles as they increasingly participated in public life, challenged traditional gender norms, and began to advocate for their rights more assertively. These changes created a fertile ground for initiatives like the ERA that aimed to solidify these advancements into law.
• Discuss how key figures from both the women's suffrage movement and later feminist movements influenced the trajectory of the Equal Rights Amendment.
  • Key figures such as Alice Paul, who initially introduced the ERA, were instrumental in linking women's suffrage victories with broader calls for equality. Later activists from second wave feminism, like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem, built upon this foundation to push for comprehensive gender equality during the 1960s and 1970s. Their advocacy not only helped maintain momentum for the ERA but also reframed discussions around women's rights to include workplace equality, reproductive rights, and an end to discrimination. This interplay between different waves of feminism significantly shaped public perception and political will regarding the ERA.
• Evaluate the implications of failed ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment on contemporary discussions about gender equality in America.
  • The failure to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment has had lasting implications on contemporary discussions about gender equality in America. It reflects ongoing challenges regarding legal protections against sex discrimination. The ERA's defeat raised critical questions about how gender is treated under existing laws and has spurred subsequent legal battles over issues like wage inequality, reproductive rights, and workplace discrimination. This unresolved status continues to influence feminist discourse today, as advocates argue for both new legislation and potential revival efforts for constitutional amendments that explicitly guarantee gender equality.

Related terms

Women's Suffrage:

The movement aimed at securing the right to vote for women, culminating in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Feminism:

A social and political movement advocating for women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

Second Wave Feminism:

A period of feminist activity in the 1960s and 1970s that focused on issues such as equality in the workplace, reproductive rights, and legal inequalities.