Pros and Cons of the Equal Rights Amendment

1284 Words3 Pages

Pros and Cons of the Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment began its earliest discussions in 1920. These discussions took place immediately after two-thirds of the states approved women's suffrage. The nineteenth century was intertwined with several feminist movements such as abortion, temperance, birth control and equality. Many lobbyists and political education groups formed in these times. One such organization is the Eagle Forum, who claims to lead the pro-family movement. On the opposite side of the coin is The National Organization for Women, or NOW, which takes action to better the position of women in society. Feminism is the most powerful force for change in our time. The Equal Rights Amendment has been a powerfully debated subject for decades. Having passed the Senate with a vote of 84-8, it failed to get the requisite thirty-eight states to ratify it. Many discussions and arguments arise over the continued push for the Equal Rights Amendment. The need for change must be a consensus and achieved both nationally and at the state level. The attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment continues, but with few supports left, it appears to have lost its momentum.

The supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment seem to feel sex discrimination laws are simply not enough. The federal laws and regulations contain many loopholes, are inconsistently interpreted and may be repealed outright (NOW 1). Many supporters claim the Equal Rights Amendment is needed "to clarify law for the lower courts, whose decisions still reflect confusion and inconsistency about how to deal with sex discrimination claims (Francis 2). There is a supporting theory argument that "an amendment of equality would absolutely shift the burden away ...

... middle of paper ...

...n, Shasta. Introduction To Women's Rights: Contemporary Issues Companion

San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003.

Hennessey, Kathleen. ‘Nevada Lawmaker Raises Equal Rights Issue." Las Vegas Sun 22

Nov. 2006: B3. http://www.lasvegassun.com/html.

Kellams, Laura."26 Years Later, Senate to Vote on ERA Issue: Effect on Resolution

Unknown." Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 27 March 2005:D1. ademgaz.com/html/>. Lopez, Kathryn. "ERA: Equality for Whom?" Sacramento Bee 22 June 2001: D2. www.sacbee.com.html >.

Schlafly, Phyllis. The Power of the Positive Women. New York: Arlington House Press,

1977.

Steiner, Gilbert. Constitutional Inequality. Washington D.C.: The Brookings Institution,

1985.

"Who Needs An Equal Rights Amendment? You Do! National Organization for Women

Jan.2006. http://www.now.org/issues/economics/html.

Open Document