WhatEverHappenedToTheEqualRightsAmendment(ERA)?

2009-05-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

The ERA Campaigner (www.ERACampaign.net) writes in its May 13 issue about some of the reasons the ERA has been on the backburner all these years. Passed in Congress in 1972, the ERA requires only three more states to ratify it. What's holding it back?

One reason is connected to "the times" -- more pressing issues in legislatures.
Another reason is "opposition".

The question has to arise: why such vehemence in the opposition? What scares the sh-- out of so many people about recognizing women's rights in the U.S. Constitution?

Read on (from the ERA Campaigner newsletter:

Advancing Full Equality Regardless of Gender

The extreme no-holds-barred vehemence of the opposition -- small in number of adherents, but great in power and resources - points to how significant the ERA will be in achieving major advances toward full legal equality for women. Inevitably, the addition of the ERA to the constitution will permit women (and men when they are the victims of sex discrimination) to proactively challenge and overturn the remaining sex discriminatory aspects of federal, state and local laws and their implementation. The ERA will also empower women and their male supporters to actively oppose other still-ingrained sex discriminatory cultural and societal patterns, including damaging assumptions about the comparative abilities and characteristics of girls and boys, women and men.

What is opposition to the ERA really all about? It is a frantic last ditch attempt to block, and then reverse, one of the most extraordinary and mighty tides of change in all of human history: the emergence, at last, of the long suppressed female half of the human race to full and equal participation in society and the shaping of a better future for all.

NOTE: This article was originally published, with the title "Equal Rights Amendment Still Brings Out Ranters," in www.OnTheIssuesMagazine.com, Spring 2009 issue. To go directly to the article on their website, visit http://www.ontheissuesmagazine.com/2009spring/2009spring_7.php

How to Help ERA Ratification Efforts in Not-yet-ratified States

Although there are still 15 not-yet-ratified states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia), just three more state ratifications are needed to reach the required 38 (three-fourths of the 50 states). ERA activists in the following states are currently campaigning vigorously for their state's ratification, with strategies tailored to suit the state's particular political and social environment. All of them welcome volunteers, contributions, and other kinds of assistance:

ARKANSAS: The ERArkansas Coalition; contact Berta Seitz, e-mail berta.seitz@att.net.

FLORIDA: The Florida Equal Rights Alliance ("Florida ERA"), www.RatifyERAflorida.net; contact Sandy Oestreich, e-mail SandyJOestreich@cs.com.

ILLINOIS: Contact Emily Battin, e-mail Emily1@consolidated.net.

LOUISIANA: Louisiana Coalition for the Equal Rights Amendment, www.la-4-equity.us; contact Sandra Hufstetler, e-mail sphufstetler@i-55-com.

MISSOURI: Missouri ERA, Missouri Women's Network, and Missouri ERA PAC; contact Shirley Breeze, e-mail sbreeze@mindspring.com, or Mary Mosley, e-mail mmosley@tranquility.net.

STAY TUNED for developments in those and other states: When ONE of them ratifies the ERA, others are likely to quickly follow!

E.R.A. Needs Y.O.U!

2009-01-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

The E.R.A. remains incomplete until three more states ratify it. The Amendment to the Constitution remains on the table, awaiting those ratifications. What can we do? Here are a few ideas:

There are two different but cooperating strategies currently being pursued to achieve the ERA:
1) the "3-state" strategy to win ratification of the ERA by three more states to add to the 35 ratifications won in the 1970's, thus reaching the required 38 (three fourths of the 50 states); and

2) the "start-over" strategy, starting the amending process afresh, with new passage of the ERA (sometimes called the Women's Equality Amendment, WEA) by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress, followed by winning fresh ratification by at least 38 of the states. Here are ways you can significantly move one or both of the strategies ahead toward victory.

REACH KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WITH YOUR PRO-ERA MESSAGE:
• Contact Rep.Carolyn Maloney (2332 Rayburn HOB, WashingtonDC20515-3214, fax 202-225-4709), chief sponsor of the "start-over" Equal Rights Amendment (that she usually calls the Women's Equality Amendment) resolution in the House of Representatives. Urge her to reintroduce it in March as she has done in the past, and to press forward to win the necessary two-thirds House vote to approve it.

• Contact Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives (Office of the Speaker, H-232, US Capitol, WashingtonDC20513-3214, phone 202-225-0100, or leave a message on http://speaker.house.gov/contact). Urge her to facilitate the progress of the ERA/WEA resolution so that it will be passed as soon as possible.

• Contact Representative Robert Andrews (2439 Rayburn HOB, WashingtonDC20515, phone 202-225-6501). Urge him to reintroduce his resolution in support of the 3-state strategy, requiring the House of Representatives to take any legislative action necessary to verify the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment as part of the Constitution when the legislatures of an additional three states ratify it.

• Contact Senator Edward Kennedy (317 Russell Senate Office Bldg., WashingtonDC20510, telephone 202-224-4543, or send him a message online at http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm.) Urge him to reintroduce the ERA/WEA in the Senate in March, as he has done in the past, and press forward to achieve the two-thirds Senate vote needed to to pass it.

• Contact Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (phone 202-224-3542, fax 202-224-7327, 522 Hart Senate Office Bldg., WashingtonDC20510). Urge him to facilitate the progress of the ERA/WEA resolution in order to get it passed as soon as possible.

NOTE: None of the above congressional resolutions, if and when passed, will incur any costs to the US government or the taxpayers.

HELP THE NOT-YET-RATIFIED STATES:
If you live in, or are particularly interested in, one (or more) of the following not-yet ratified states, contact the state's ERA leader or organization for guidance as to how best to help their ongoing campaign to achieve their state's ratification of the ERA while the mood of the country is on our side:

• ARKANSAS, where Rep. Lindsley Smith of the state's legislature, whose resolution proposing state ratification of the ERA was narrowly defeated in committee during the 2007 session, plans to bring back the resolution during the upcoming 2009 session, saying, "I've had legislators who've questioned it in the past say, 'Hey, I'm going to support it this time'....I think everything's in line to pass it in the 2009 session." Contact Berta Seitz, BertaSeitz@att.net, phone 479-442-6256.

NOTE: One of your daughters is now Secretary of State. Protect all of your daughters by passing this resolution now!

• FLORIDA, where hard-fought efforts to achieve ratification continue unabated, with high hopes for major progress this year. Contact Sandy Oestreich, SandyJOestreich@cs.com, phone 727-393-0932, website www.RatifyERAflorida.net. Note: The Florida effort is in special need of donations.

NOTE: Florida E.R.A. backers are soooo close. Help put this Amendment over the top!

• GEORGIA, where there are ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the ERA and build political support for the amendment, contact Idella Moore of 4ERA, info@4ERA/org, phone 678-793-6965, website www.4ERA.org.

• ILLINOIS, where legislator Lou Lang has pre-filed the ERA bill, Hjrca003, in their House of Representatives, and ERA activists are moving ahead vigorously for ERA ratification in this (2009) session. Contact Emily Battin, Emily1@consolidated.net, phone 217-229-3754.

NOTE: Here's a way to please our new President from Illinois: Ratify this Amendment now! The next President may be a WOMAN from your state.

• LOUISIANA, another state where ERA activists have high hopes for ratification soon. Contact Sandra Hufstetler of ERA Louisiana, shufstetler@i-55.com, phone 985-345-3001.

• MISSOURI, where the current effort is focused particularly on working to get pro-ERA women elected to the state legislature, contact Shirley Breeze, chair of the Missouri Women's Network, sbreeze@mindspring.com, phone 314-831-5359, or Mary Mosley, mmosley@tranquility.net, phone 573-642-6354.

NOTE: Watch this blog for news of efforts being made also in the other not-yet ratified states: Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.

HELP THE ERA CAMPAIGN NETWORK EXPAND ITS EFFORTS:
Another way you can help the nationwide campaign to achieve the full Constitutionally-guaranteed equal rights that should long ago have been the birthright of all citizens - female as well as male: Contribute to the ERA Campaign Network to help us cover out-of-pocket expenses and expand our efforts (we are all unpaid volunteers): Send checks of any size, made out to The ERA Campaign Network, to Treasurer Esther Gelbard, 9A Betsy Ross Drive, Monroe Township, NJ 08831. THANK YOU!

E.R.A. Alive and Kicking!

2009-01-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

The E.R.A. remains incomplete until three more states ratify it. The Amendment to the Constitution remains on the table, awaiting those ratifications. What can we do? Here are a few ideas:

There are two different but cooperating strategies currently being pursued to achieve the ERA:
1) the "3-state" strategy to win ratification of the ERA by three more states to add to the 35 ratifications won in the 1970's, thus reaching the required 38 (three fourths of the 50 states); and
2)the "start-over" strategy, starting the amending process afresh, with new passage of the ERA (sometimes called the Women's Equality Amendment, WEA) by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress, followed by winning fresh ratification by at least 38 of the states. Here are ways you can significantly move one or both of the strategies ahead toward victory.

REACH KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WITH YOUR PRO-ERA MESSAGE:

· Contact Rep.Carolyn Maloney (2332 Rayburn HOB, WashingtonDC20515-3214, fax 202-225-4709), chief sponsor of the "start-over" Equal Rights Amendment (that she usually calls the Women's Equality Amendment) resolution in the House of Representatives. Urge her to reintroduce it in March as she has done in the past, and to press forward to win the necessary two-thirds House vote to approve it.

· Contact Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives (Office of the Speaker, H-232, US Capitol, WashingtonDC20513-3214, phone 202-225-0100, or leave a message on http://speaker.house.gov/contact). Urge her to facilitate the progress of the ERA/WEA resolution so that it will be passed as soon as possible.

· Contact Representative Robert Andrews (2439 Rayburn HOB, WashingtonDC20515, phone 202-225-6501). Urge him to reintroduce his resolution in support of the 3-state strategy, requiring the House of Representatives to take any legislative action necessary to verify the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment as part of the Constitution when the legislatures of an additional three states ratify it.

· Contact Senator Edward Kennedy (317 Russell Senate Office Bldg., WashingtonDC20510, telephone 202-224-4543, or send him a message online at http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm.) Urge him to reintroduce the ERA/WEA in the Senate in March, as he has done in the past, and press forward to achieve the two-thirds Senate vote needed to to pass it.

· Contact Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (phone 202-224-3542, fax 202-224-7327, 522 Hart Senate Office Bldg., WashingtonDC20510). Urge him to facilitate the progress of the ERA/WEA resolution in order to get it passed as soon as possible.

· Note: None of the above congressional resolutions, if and when passed, will incur any costs to the US government or the taxpayers.

HELP THE NOT-YET-RATIFIED STATES:

If you live in, or are particularly interested in, one (or more) of the following not-yet ratified states, contact the state's ERA leader or organization for guidance as to how best to help their ongoing campaign to achieve their state's ratification of the ERA while the mood of the country is on our side:

· ARKANSAS, where Rep. Lindsley Smith of the state's legislature, whose resolution proposing state ratification of the ERA was narrowly defeated in committee during the 2007 session, plans to bring back the resolution during the upcoming 2009 session, saying, "I've had legislators who've questioned it in the past say, 'Hey, I'm going to support it this time'....I think everything's in line to pass it in the 2009 session." Contact Berta Seitz, BertaSeitz@att.net, phone 479-442-6256.

· FLORIDA, where hard-fought efforts to achieve ratification continue unabated, with high hopes for major progress this year. Contact Sandy Oestreich, SandyJOestreich@cs.com, phone 727-393-0932, website www.RatifyERAflorida.net. Note: The Florida effort is in special need of donations.

· GEORGIA, where there are ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the ERA and build political support for the amendment, contact Idella Moore of 4ERA, info@4ERA/org, phone 678-793-6965, website www.4ERA.org.

· ILLINOIS, where legislator Lou Lang has pre-filed the ERA bill, Hjrca003, in their House of Representatives, and ERA activists are moving ahead vigorously for ERA ratification in this (2009) session. Contact Emily Battin, Emily1@consolidated.net, phone 217-229-3754.

· LOUISIANA, another state where ERA activists have high hopes for ratification soon. Contact Sandra Hufstetler of ERA Louisiana, shufstetler@i-55.com, phone 985-345-3001.

· MISSOURI, where the current effort is focused particularly on working to get pro-ERA women elected to the state legislature, contact Shirley Breeze, chair of the Missouri Women's Network, sbreeze@mindspring.com, phone 314-831-5359, or Mary Mosley, mmosley@tranquility.net, phone 573-642-6354.

Note: Watch this newsletter for news of efforts being made also in the other not-yet ratified states: Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.

HELP THE ERA CAMPAIGN NETWORK EXPAND ITS EFFORTS:

Another way you can help the nationwide campaign to achieve the full Constitutionally-guaranteed equal rights that should long ago have been the birthright of all citizens - female as well as male: Contribute to the ERA Campaign Network to help us cover out-of-pocket expenses and expand our efforts (we are all unpaid volunteers): Send checks of any size, made out to The ERA Campaign Network, to Treasurer Esther Gelbard, 9A Betsy Ross Drive, Monroe Township, NJ 08831. THANK YOU!

WHICH THREE STATES WILL MAKE HISTORY?

2007-09-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Six of the United States — Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, and Missouri — have begun the ratification process for the Equal Rights Amendment. Action is expected in the next few months. If you live and vote in these states, contact your representatives now (NOW!) and urge approval of the ratification. Only three states are needed. Will yours be one to make history?

2007-09-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

HEY! E.R.A. SUPPORTERS IN AND AROUND FLORIDA:

SANDY OESTREICH, Founder/President of Equal Rights Alliance Inc., writes:
"This is a fabulous blog about the Equal Rights Amendment that everyone thinks has passed! Especially young women are stunned to find that they are not mentioned in the Constitution at all, that the only right they have is the hard-won Right To Vote, Amendment 19, that women were jailed, beaten and force-fed in order to achieve. And THAT Amendment was only made possible by one single vote of a legislator!"

WOMANIST replies:
"You are so right how young people think (or don't think) about the rights of women and how they were achieved — up to this point. Imagine — 143 years to give women the right to vote! 198 years to get Congress to consider adding women to the Constitution! And 231 years later — women still are not represented in the Constitution of the United States. Appalling!

Sandy further offers five action plans to the VOTERS OF FLORIDA:

Your Alliance is still working tirelessly, with joy at the prospect of ratifying the ERA!

We are at the brink of an onslaught by Phyllis Schlafly (82 y/o, but still amazingly effective) just like the ones that killed 4 states' successful ERA efforts in the past year! Those were MO, AK, LA, and NV. I'd sent you all the YouTube of one of those stunning hearings. Our side was well-prepared with Constitutional lawyers and experts. In 3 minutes, she demolished their chances.

You and I and the Equal Rights Alliance cannot let that happen in Florida: We have worked extremely hard, non-stop, and made more progress than any other state.

I personally appeal to you to help make certain our legislators won't turn over their votes like those did. We must ask you to increase your own efforts tremendously as we volunteers cannot do it all, obviously. Besides, YOU and how you urge the ERA are the MOST important factors in getting your own 2 FL legislators to cosponsor and vote for Florida's ratification.
So, we are asking you to pick at least ONE ACTION from this list, PLEASE. Do it now, while legislators have time for you and will listen about ERA. Tallahassee is a zoo, and they aren't as interested in us as in you, trust me. You are their employer!

Choose one, and let me know you've done it:

1) Make an appointment to visit your FL senator and representative. Call Supervisor of Elections for contact info. Just tell them you are a Constituent (read, employer!) and strongly support the ERA, and ask your 2 legislators where they stand on the ERA bill, (and why, if possible). That's all. Then get back to us with that info so we can plot our 2008 Session strategies for Tallahassee. Again, this action is THE MOST important one for ERA right now!

or
2) Phone your 2 legislators as a Constituent, and ask that question. Let us know the result.

or
3) Let us know you will speak before your county's group of legislators this Fall, and we will fwd you a 3 min. speech or do one of your own, and will send details of meeting.
or

4) Purchase from Alliance one of the "Someday a Woman Will Be President" dolls that WalMart banned as the shirt's statement "is against our family values". $25. Manufacturer is now closed. Description and purchase information is at our web site, www.RatifyERAflorida.net.

or
5) Donate an amount that reflects how you value achieving an ERA.

Thank you for your support of YOUR ERA!
Sandy, ERA Board, and Staff

Sandy Oestreich
Founder/President, Equal Rights Alliance Inc.,
(The Organization with Leaders Dedicated Solely to Florida's Ratification of the re-ignited ERA)
and Vice President, the national ERA Education Fund, Inc., 501(c)3
727-393-0932, phone/fax

RatifyERA@cs.com
PO Box 59023
North Redington Beach, FL 33708

ERA Supporters Press Their Case Again and Again

2007-08-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

Noted the following item in the Women's eNews

Go to the site and read the entire article by Juliettte Terzieff. I'm still getting the hang of this blogging thing and can't figure out how to "link" as yet. When I do — you won't have to re-type the referral sites. Stick with me —
VonnyDee

Here's the email note I received:

Supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment are hopeful that the time is right for ratification of the change to the U.S. Constitution, Juliette Terzieff reports today. Florida, in particular, is a hotbed of activism. The amendment has waited since March for a hearing in Congress.

Story follows announcements.

Yippee! We opened the mail today and out plopped a $2,000 check! Editor Rita Henley Jensen is going to be calling someone on election night with the news! Total to date in our Women-Wise Election Campaign: $7,442--oh so close to $10,000! Thank you O Wise Women, investing in women-centered campaign coverage!

And please remember: The first 75 who pledge $19.20 a month or donate $230 (we need just three more to make it to $6,000) will receive a very special book: The Perfect 36: Tennessee Delivers Woman Suffrage. Those who give $1920 will receive a call on election night from editor in chief Rita Henley Jensen with vote tallies.

To donate, please go to: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3254/.

AOL subscribers: To view the Commentoon by Ann Telnaes and HTML e-mail, please remember to click on the "Show images and enable links" in the header of your e-mail.

Does someone send you Women's eNews? Please help us grow and get your own free subscription today at www.womensenews.org/join.cfm.

From Little Woman to Girl in 40 Years

2007-07-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

Don't Call Me "Girl"!

I am so sick of being called "girl" and hearing other grown women called "girl" that I'd almost prefer the old, outworn phrase "little woman". Just when you think a term has gone out of style, it comes back in its original form. Use your cell-phone-thing to count the times in one day that you hear grown women referred to as "girls". You'll find the word has become a staple of television and movies. Note too how the term reduces the value of the woman.

Years ago, a married woman was referred to as "the little woman", the "little lady", the "lady of the house", and a few other things I won't mention in polite company. All of these terms, of course, diminish the role that the "little woman" plays in the home — as cook, launderer, cleaning lady, child-bearer, teacher, nurse, confidante, counselor, purveyor of sexual favors, accountant, and holder of the TV remote.

Wouldn't you think that things would change, now that women are flying to outer space in rockets, running banks and colleges, governing cities and states, catching felons, commanding jet airliners, and other such things once defined as "men's work"? But things have not changed. Even today, women earn less than men; are restricted from certain jobs (in certain companies); have never led the country as President or Vice President; and are under-represented in the courts, legislatures, councils, and government management.

What bothers me most is that young women, especially those under 30, have few clues about how their mothers and grandmothers were treated — back in the olden days of the early 20th century. Less than 50 years ago, women were moved out of teaching jobs when they became pregnant (if they were even allowed to teach as a married woman). "Pregnant" was a word banned from movies, radio, and the then-budding-television. Women could not buy big ticket items (house, car, boat, business) without a husband, brother, or father to co-sign. Women couldn't even buy insurance for themselves. Their work was stuck at the bottom of the economic pyramid: clerk, typist, teacher, nurse, teller, or restaurant server (once called "waitress"). An "acceptable business" for a woman (usually a widow) included taking in laundry, or operating a beauty shop, dress shop, or millinery.

Next time someone refers to you, or some other female over 14 years, as "girl", give them a chilling stare and then a lecture on manners. Save the "girl" label for underage females. the rest of us are "women". Or don't you remember Helen Reddy's famous song, "I Am Woman!" or Sojourner Truth's famous poem, "Ain't I a Woman?"

Passage of the Equal Rights Amendment won't fix all these ailments, but it will go a long way to giving pause for reflection about the status and value of women in the good old U.S.A.

U.S. Still Doesn't Provide Rights for Women? Naaah, couldn't be!

2007-06-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

Can you remember the “reasons to quash the ERA” that were put forth during consideration of the Amendment thirty years ago? Here are just a few!

“The ERA will force women to serve in the army.” (The word “force” has been replaced by “allow” — much to the appreciation of many of the women who now proudly serve in all branches of the armed forces.)

“The ERA will make all bathrooms unisex.” (As if the bathroom in your home isn’t already unisex!)

“The ERA will allow women to use abortion as birth control.” (Your daughter has just been raped and may be pregnant. Your sister just discovered she is pregnant, two months after her husband was sent to prison for beating her. Your wife is approaching menopause and finds herself “with child.” Thank your lucky stars that abortion is still — mostly — legal in this country.)

“The ERA is a communist move to take over the government.” (No comment!)

Wouldn’t we be embarrassed if the U.S. elected a woman as President without an Equal Rights Amendment in its Constitution?

What Can I Do?

2007-06-09T15:32:00.001-07:00

If you live in one of the following states, contact your state representative and ask for their position in the ratification process: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.

Six of the states: Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, and Missouri have begun the ratification process. Here’s an update:

ARKANSAS:
Berta Seitz is the ERA Campaign Network Arkansas coordinator and is putting together a large coalition of organizations. Three of the four candidates for governor (election in November 2007) have endorsed the ERA. To help (particularly if you are an Arkansas resident who could help lobby legislators), contact Berta Seitz, BSeitz@fayar.net or phone 479-442-6256.

ARIZONA:
Kathy Kelly, ERA Campaign Network Arizona Coordinator, was set to introduce the ERA ratification bill in the state House of Representatives in January 2007. To help, contact Kathy Kelly, 602-690-1038.

FLORIDA:
Sandy Oestreich, ERA Campaign Network Florida Coordinator, also heads the Florida Equal Rights Alliance. Both the Florida House and Senate Judiciary Committees held onto the bill during the 2007 March-April session. Much work remains to be done to bring the matter to the floor. A petition drive and Letters To The Editor campaign are part of the current efforts. Former Congressional Representative Patricia Schroeder chairs the Alliance Board, speaks, and writes an ERA newspaper column in Florida. To participate in the excitement in Florida, see the Alliance website: www.RatifyERAflorida.net. To help, contact Sandy Oestreich, SandyJOestreich@cs.com; phone 727-393-0932.

ILLINOIS:
Emily Battin is the ERA Campaign Network Illinois coordinator, is looking to passage in the 2007-08 session. Illinois requires a three-fifths vote of both houses to ratify federal amendment resolutions (rather than the usual simple majority). To help, contact Emily Battin by email: emily1@consolidated.net, phone: 217-229-3754.

LOUISIANA:
Plans were underway by the Louisiana ERA Coalition to introduce the ratification bill in the spring 2007 session. Help contact info is on the way. Do you know what’s happening in Louisiana?

MISSOURI:
Shirley Breeze, ERA Campaign Network Missouri Coordinator, also chairs the Missouri Women’s Network. The ERA ratification bill was introduced in the 2007 session, had a hearing in the Senate Committee, but no action was taken. Because Missouri bills must be re-filed each year, legislation will have to wait until January 2008. To help, contact Shirley Breeze, sbreeze@mindspring.com, or phone: 314-831-5359.

Why is the Equal Rights Amendment Important?

2007-06-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

Look around! If you are a woman, you face a subtle kind of discrimination every day. In the workplace, your salary may not be commensurate with the work you do — or the pay received by men doing the same job. You may be called names: honey, sugar, dear (by strangers or by other workers). You may be made to feel that you are required to apply gobs of makeup and wear bone-crushing shoes to do your job “appropriately”.

As a woman, you may feel out of place in gatherings where “suits” prevail. You also may feel left out when you see photos of the Supreme Court, the state and federal legislatures, gatherings of mayors and governors, business meetings, sporting events, and listings of the Fortune 500. (Many golf courses still specify “Ladies Day” and many saloons feature “Ladies Night”!)

More importantly, women need constitutional affirmation — to know that terms such as “liberty and justice for all,” “equal justice under the law,” “government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” and especially “all men are created equal” apply to you — a woman!

THE LAW
By placing this amendment in the constitution, courts would feel the onus to treat women as equal citizens under the law. The ERA would influence the law in lower courts as well as Supreme Court decisions — there would be justification for treatment of women in discrimination cases as forcefully as race discrimination is currently protected (as a result of the 15th Amendment).

In today’s culture, a kind of whiplash effect is taking place in the area of sex discrimination. Conservative politicians are moving toward removing many of the protective legislation concerning women in attempts to return women to the roles of yesteryear (in the kitchen, bedroom, and nursery).

All this at a time when governing documents of many other nations of the world already affirm the legal equality of the sexes (even in Japan and Iraq where constitutions were created under the direction of the United States).

THE TIME IS NOW
Furthermore, the ERA is needed because it is time. In the 21st century, women’s only rights underscored in the U.S. Constitution involve the right to vote. Women need the protection of their rights to equal education, fair paychecks, political and economic opportunities, and freedom from violence. Women also need the freedom to pursue their own “happiness” without having to fight every step of the way — politically, economically, and judicially.

As soon as women and men can work side by side without concern for basic issues of human rights, the sooner the energies of both women and men can be merged to face the challenges of the day. Yes — men and women are different, in many ways. Wouldn’t it make sound strategy to meld the differences to make a much stronger force in the progress of civilization in the 21st century?

Whatever Happened to the ERA?

2007-06-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

Whatever Happened to the ERA?

Ask anyone: what ever happened to the ERA? And you get a blank stare or an "I don't know," or "Huh?" What's happened is the Equal Rights Amendment that was close to ratification in 1978 has been all but forgotten.

Other common responses are: "The ERA was passed a long time ago." Or, "What's the ERA?" In a recent 7-question survey, college students — even some in Women's Studies classes — couldn't answer them all correctly.

TAKE THIS QUIZ (Dare yah!)
Here are the questions — just seven of them. How do you fare?

1. What does ERA stand for, as it pertains to women? a) Education Rights Amendment; b) Equal Rights Amendment; c) Economic Recovery Act; d) Equal Rights Act.

2. The ERA was first proposed in: a) 1923; b) 1945; c) 1978; d) 1982.

3. The ERA was made into law in a) 1923; b) 1945; c) 1978; d) 1982.

4. The ERA was ratified by a) 33 states; b) 35 states; c) 38 states; d) all 50 states.

5. The rights of women are clearly protected a) in the U.S. Constitution; b) in the new Iraq Constitution; c) in the Bill of Rights; d) in the Women's Rights Act of 1975.

6. The 14th Amendment a) assures women's rights in the Constitution b) provides voting privileges for "all citizens;" c) excludes women by reference to "voting males;" d) was written by a woman.

7. In the U.S. Constitution a) the rights of women are not spelled out; b) the words "citizens" and "persons" are not meant to apply to women and blacks; c) separate amendments were necessary to secure the vote for women and blacks; d) all of the above

After you check the right answers (below), you'll know that ERA stands for the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S., that it was first proposed in 1923 by Alice Paul, and that it was never added to the Constitution because it fell short of ratification by three states. You'll also realize that the rights of women in Iraq are protected by its new constitution. What you may not realize is that women's rights are protected in just about every democratic country in the free world — except the United States.

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly excludes women by reference to "voting males," thereby opening the door to renewing the ratification process interrupted in 1978. Another precedent of law involves the Madison Amendment, the 27th of the Constitution, which was finally ratified in the 1990s after lying dormant for 203 years.

The final question clarifies the current status of women's rights in the U.S. They are not protected under the U.S. Constitution. The words "citizens" and "persons" are not meant to apply to women and blacks (slavery was abolished through the 15th Amendment).

The shame lies with the women of the U.S. who have been compliant in letting this oversight continue, by not demanding that their rights be spelled out in the Constitution. And shame on the country as a whole, a nation considered the leader of the democratic free world, for insisting on human rights around the world while omitting them at home.

Six states have bills in the hopper to ratify the ERA Amendment and make it law — Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Louisiana, Illinois and Arkansas. If those fail, there are 9 other states that have not ratified the amendment as yet (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, and Virginia).

Three bills also are in the works in the U.S. Congress. In December 2005, Senator Edward Kennedy reintroduced the ERA (as S.J.Res.7) in the Senate; Representative Carolyn Maloney reintroduced it (as H.J.Res.37) in the House of Representatives. In addition, Representative Robert Andrews reintroduced the resolution (as H.Res.155) requiring the House to take any legislative action necessary to verify that the addition of three more state ratifications will fulfill the requirements to add the ERA to the U.S. Constitution.

In other words, the path is clear to seek ratification now and add this amendment covering the rights of women to the U.S. Constitution. The Equal Rights Amendment is one of those pesky items that has been pushed to the backburner and nearly forgotten. With the world in turmoil, fighting over rights of human beings, the time seems right.

Contact your congressional representatives in Washington and urge them to get down to work and take care of this small but very important housekeeping detail. If you live in a state that has yet to ratify the amendment, contact representatives and urge ratification as soon as possible.

[Answers: 1-b; 2-a; 3-none; 4-b; 5-b; 6-c; 7-d.]