1. Equality and Hierarchy: Women’s Experience
L14: The Equal Rights Amendment (1970s and 1980s)
Equality and Hierarchy: Women’s Experience
Agenda
Objective:
To understand…
The story of the ERA.
Arguments articulated in support and opposition to the ERA.
The significance of the story of the ERA for understanding women’s search for equality.
Schedule:
Lecture & Discussion
Homework
Unit Work:
Closing Summative Discussion Assignment for L15 (G: Tues 1/14; Y: Wed 1/15)
Unit Test for L16 (G: Wed 1/15; Y: Thurs 1/16)
Thesis:
Assign #6 Preliminary Thesis & Note Cards Due: Fri 1/10 for both G& Y
Assignment #7 Literature Review Due:
G: Wed 1/15 & Y: Thurs 1/16
In Class Thesis Work Day!: G: Thurs 1/16; Y: Fri 1/17

2. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
Proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for women.
TEXT:
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
What does this amendment seek to do?

3. The Equal Rights Amendment
Originally drafted by suffragist Alice Paul in 1923
Was introduced in every Congressional Session between 1923 and 1970, but almost never reached the floor of the Senate or House for a vote.

4. ERA: Things Change in 1970
NOW began a campaign of political activism to push for the passage of the ERA
Activism Included:
Picketing the United States Senate demanding the ERA
Disrupting hearings demanding the ERA
Organized a Women’s Strike for Equality
In response, to this pressure hearings on the ERA began in 1970

5. The ERA goes to the States
In 1971, the ERA
passed the House
and the Senate.
It was then
presented to state
legislatures for ratification with a seven- year deadline for ratification.
President Richard Nixon endorsed the ERA’s approval.

6. The ERA Goes to the States
Initial pace of ratification was rapid, but then slowed.
30 states ratified the ERA by 1973
3 states by 1974
1 state in 1975
0 states in 1976
1 state in 1977
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a resolution extended the ratification until 1982.

8. The ERA Fails
By the early 1980s, women had repealed oppressive laws that were based on sex, integrated the "boys' clubs" such as military academies, the United States armed forces, NASA, single-sex colleges, men’s clubs, and the Supreme Court had ruled repeatedly in favor of equal rights for women.
By 1982 (the deadline under Carter’s extension) the ERA was three state’s shy of the needed 38 states for ratification.

9. ERA Discussion Circle Up!
We want to discuss the ERA and the significance of its story for women’s experience in American history.
Discussion:
The ERA had prominent supporters and opponents who each tried to make their case for the ERA should pass or be voted down.
What are the arguments Steinem makes in support of the ERA?
What are the arguments Schlafly makes in opposition to the ERA?
What are the views of gender equality articulated by both women?
Can we call both women feminists?
Why did the ERA fail?
What does the failure of the ERA say about the success of second-wave feminism?
Where does the failure of the ERA leave us today on the question of gender equity?