The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to guarantee equal legal rights regardless of sex. Ratified by Congress in 1972 but not by enough states by the 1979 deadline, it stated: “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 goal was to ensure equal treatment in areas like employment and education.
In my opinion, the ERA should have been passed. It would have led to more job opportunities, especially in healthcare, boosted national revenue, and created a more balanced society with fewer legal and social complications.
First introduced in 1923 by Alice Paul and passed by Congress on March 22, 1972.
Opponents, like Phyllis Schlafly, claimed the ERA would eliminate certain traditional protections for women, such as the expectation of male financial support. They argued it would disrupt social and religious norms.
The ERA gained renewed attention during the feminist movement of the 1970s. Activists highlighted inequalities in employment, reproductive rights, and the legal system that disadvantaged women.