Val Dumond

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Whatever Happened to the Equal Rights Amendment?
by Val Dumond
©2006

Last month you answered a survey of questions about the E.R.A. - and if you didn't know all the answers, you're not alone. Most people under 30 never heard of the E.R.A. And those over 30 have forgotten about it - or assume it is part of the U.S. Constitution.

It is not!

Which brings up some questions: Why not? Why does the new Constitution of Iraq protect the rights of women and not the U.S. Constitution? Why do most democratic countries in the world provide protection for the rights of women - but not the U.S., leader of the free world? What can you do to make things right - equally for men and women in this country?

Why Not Equality for Women in the U.S.?

A mere 24 words:

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

The E.R.A. was introduced in 1923 by Alice Paul and the suffragists, flush with their success in obtaining the vote for U.S. women. It was not acted upon until the 1970s, when both houses of Congress finally passed the bill.

Next, it went to the state legislatures for ratification. Three-fourths of the states (38) are needed to ratify an amendment to the Constitution. By 1978, after one extension, only 35 states had ratified.

That left 15 states that have yet to ratify the amendment. Three will do it!

Why does the new Constitution of Iraq protect the rights of women and not the U.S. Constitution?

Good question. Ask your Congressional representatives.

Why do most democratic countries in the world provide protection for the rights of women - but not the U.S., leader of the free world? It's not that the U.S. Constitution leaves women out... oops! That's exactly what has happened! When the Constitution was written in the 1700s, only men - white men - were considered citizens and allowed to vote. In the 19th Amendment, blacks were written into the Constitution. Women, however, remained with "children, slaves, prisoners, and the mentally ill - outside the rights department.

In the 14th Amendment, voters are specifically referred to as "male voters," thus making it very clear just where women stand in the matter of equal rights.

What can you do to make things right - equally for women and men in this country?

If you know someone in one of the 15 unratified states, contact them and ask them to write to their State Legislators, requesting passage of ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. (The unratified 15: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.)

Never mind that it's been 30 years since they were last asked. Most of the objections to ratification then (in the 1970s) have been overcome. Women now regularly serve in the Army - and we have many nonsexist bathrooms that haven't hurt anyone yet.

And never mind that it's been three decades. The Madison Amendment, a bill originally put before Congress in 1789 (yes, that was the 18th century!) was brought up and passed. That's 203 years - a heckuvalot more than a mere 30. (Oh, you're curious about the subject matter? That old bill became the 27th Amendment in 1992, and covered pay raises to members of Congress.)

One more thing you can do: write to Congressional Representatives and Senators and ask them please to get off their butts and do the right thing for the nation's women. Make Equal Rights for Women a part of the Constitution.

It won't bring women's average pay up to par with men's right away (women now earn about 74% less than men in general), but it will make women's cases stronger for bringing it about. This Amendment also will put women's issues on a par with men's and create a level playing field for ALL citizens of the U.S. Until now, those citizens plainly do not include women.

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