What is the Equal Rights Amendment?

The Equal Rights Amendment was first written by Dr. Alice Paul in 1923 and would provide blanket protection from sex discrimination in our Constitution. The ERA is a non-partisan human rights issue. As a matter of fact, Republicans first introduced it to both chambers of Congress also in 1923.

The Equal Rights Amendment is not yet in the U.S. Constitution

The ERA was finally approved by Congress in 1972 and sent out to the states for ratification, with an arbitrary deadline of 7 years attached (this was later extended to 10 years).

In 1982, the extension expired 3 states short of the 38 needed for ratification. READ MORE

REMOVING THE DEADLINE

Currently, there is legislation to remove the deadline allowing time to obtain the 3 additional states needed to ratify the ERA. The current bi partisan Senate bill is SJRes15 and has 35 co sponsors. The House bill is HJRes43 and has 104 co sponsors. READ MORE

UNRATIFIED STATES:

Alabama	Arizona	Arkansas	Florida	Georgia
Illinois	Louisiana	Mississippi	Missouri	Nevada
North Carolina	Oklahoma	South Carolina	Utah	Virginia

In 1972, when the ERA was first passed women earned .76 to a man’s $1.00. Today, women earn .77 to a man’s $1.00. African American women earn .65 and Hispanic women earn .55.
There are only 7 countries not signed on to the CEDAW international women’s treaty. The United States is one of the countries because we do not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in our constitution.
The United States insisted that all countries drafting constitutions after WWII include a statement that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; the US Constitution has no such clause.
Single women and their children live in poverty. According to the US Poverty center, “poverty rates are highest by families headed by single women, particularly if they are black or Hispanic.”
Without the ERA, gains made for and by women remain vulnerable, politically negotiable and constantly at risk.

The equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not protect against discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation, according to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Read:
Rep. Jackie Speier the Equal Rights Amendment and What is Needed

RESOURCES:

ERA Unfinished Business
ERA 3 State Strategy