The Organizations that Supported the ERA

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 128 views

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a pivotal piece of legislation that aimed to guarantee equal rights for women under the law. Introduced in 1923, the ERA was a long-overdue response to the systemic inequalities faced by women in the United States. The amendment's passage would have ensured that women had the same rights and opportunities as men, including equal pay, equal access to education and employment, and an end to discriminatory laws and practices.

The ERA and the Women's Movement

The ERA was a key component of the women's movement in the 1970s, which sought to address the systemic inequalities faced by women in American society. The women's movement was a broad-based coalition of women from diverse backgrounds, including activists, politicians, and ordinary citizens. The movement's goals were to achieve equal rights, challenge patriarchal norms, and promote social change.

The Organizations that Supported the ERA

Several organizations played a crucial role in supporting the ERA, including:

NOW (National Organization for Women): Founded in 1966, NOW was one of the most prominent organizations to support the ERA. The organization's mission was to promote women's rights and challenge discriminatory laws and practices. NOW's efforts helped to galvanize public support for the ERA and lobby for its passage.
SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee): While SNCC is often associated with the Civil Rights Movement, the organization also played a significant role in supporting the ERA. SNCC's commitment to social justice and equality led them to advocate for women's rights and challenge patriarchal norms.
AIM (American Indian Movement): AIM was a key organization in the Native American rights movement, and they also supported the ERA. AIM's efforts helped to highlight the intersectional nature of oppression and the need for a comprehensive approach to social justice.
SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference): While SCLC is often associated with the Civil Rights Movement, the organization also supported the ERA. SCLC's commitment to social justice and equality led them to advocate for women's rights and challenge discriminatory laws and practices.

The Impact of the ERA on Women's Rights

The ERA would have had a profound impact on women's rights in the United States. The amendment would have ensured that women had the same rights and opportunities as men, including equal pay, equal access to education and employment, and an end to discriminatory laws and practices. The ERA would have also helped to challenge patriarchal norms and promote social change.

The Legacy of the ERA

Despite the ERA's failure to be ratified, its legacy continues to be felt today. The amendment's passage would have marked a significant milestone in the struggle for women's rights and social justice. The ERA's impact can be seen in the many laws and policies that have been enacted to promote women's rights and challenge discriminatory practices.

Conclusion

The ERA was a pivotal piece of legislation that aimed to guarantee equal rights for women under the law. The amendment's passage would have marked a significant milestone in the struggle for women's rights and social justice. The organizations that supported the ERA, including NOW, SNCC, AIM, and SCLC, played a crucial role in promoting the amendment and challenging discriminatory laws and practices. While the ERA's failure to be ratified is a disappointment, its legacy continues to be felt today, and its impact can be seen in the many laws and policies that have been enacted to promote women's rights and challenge discriminatory practices.

Timeline of the ERA

1923: The ERA is introduced in Congress.
1966: NOW is founded and begins to advocate for the ERA.
1970s: The women's movement gains momentum, and the ERA becomes a key component of the movement's goals.
1972: The ERA is passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
1979: The ERA's ratification deadline expires, and the amendment fails to be ratified.

Key Figures in the ERA

Alice Paul: A leading figure in the women's suffrage movement, Paul was a key advocate for the ERA.
Betty Friedan: A prominent feminist and author, Friedan was a key figure in the women's movement and a strong supporter of the ERA.
Gloria Steinem: A leading feminist and journalist, Steinem was a key figure in the women's movement and a strong supporter of the ERA.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Supreme Court Justice and leading feminist, Ginsburg was a key advocate for the ERA and has written extensively on the importance of women's rights.
The Equal Rights Amendment: A Q&A Guide =====================================

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a pivotal piece of legislation that aimed to guarantee equal rights for women under the law. Introduced in 1923, the ERA was a long-overdue response to the systemic inequalities faced by women in the United States. Despite its failure to be ratified, the ERA's legacy continues to be felt today. Here are some frequently asked questions about the ERA:

Q: What was the Equal Rights Amendment?

A: The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that aimed to guarantee equal rights for women under the law. The amendment would have ensured that women had the same rights and opportunities as men, including equal pay, equal access to education and employment, and an end to discriminatory laws and practices.

Q: Why was the ERA necessary?

A: The ERA was necessary because women in the United States faced systemic inequalities and discriminatory laws and practices. Women were denied the right to vote, own property, and access education and employment opportunities. The ERA aimed to address these inequalities and promote social change.

Q: Who supported the ERA?

A: Several organizations and individuals supported the ERA, including:

NOW (National Organization for Women): Founded in 1966, NOW was one of the most prominent organizations to support the ERA.
SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee): While SNCC is often associated with the Civil Rights Movement, the organization also played a significant role in supporting the ERA.
AIM (American Indian Movement): AIM was a key organization in the Native American rights movement, and they also supported the ERA.
SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference): While SCLC is often associated with the Civil Rights Movement, the organization also supported the ERA.

Q: What were the key provisions of the ERA?

A: The ERA would have ensured that women had the same rights and opportunities as men, including:

Equal pay: Women would have had the right to equal pay for equal work.
Equal access to education and employment: Women would have had equal access to education and employment opportunities.
End to discriminatory laws and practices: The ERA would have ended discriminatory laws and practices that denied women their rights.

Q: Why did the ERA fail to be ratified?

A: The ERA failed to be ratified because it did not meet the required number of state ratifications. The amendment was passed by Congress in 1972 and sent to the states for ratification, but it failed to meet the required number of state ratifications by the 1979 deadline.

Q: What is the current status of the ERA?

A: The ERA is still not ratified, but there are ongoing efforts to revive the amendment. In 2020, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to remove the deadline for ratification, and the amendment is currently being considered by the Senate.

Q: What is the impact of the ERA on women's rights?

A: The ERA would have had a profound impact on women's rights in the United States. The amendment would have ensured that women had the same rights and opportunities as men, including equal pay, equal access to education and employment, and an end to discriminatory laws and practices. The ERA's impact can be seen in the many laws and policies that have been enacted to promote women's rights and challenge discriminatory practices.

Q: What can be done to revive the ERA?

A: There are several steps that can be taken to revive the ERA, including:

Passing a resolution to remove the deadline for ratification: This would allow the amendment to be considered by the states without a deadline.
Gathering support from state legislatures: The ERA would need to be ratified by 38 state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.
Building public support: The ERA would need to have broad public support to be successful.

Conclusion

The Equal Rights Amendment was a pivotal piece of legislation that aimed to guarantee equal rights for women under the law. Despite its failure to be ratified, the ERA's legacy continues to be felt today. The amendment's impact can be seen in the many laws and policies that have been enacted to promote women's rights and challenge discriminatory practices. Ongoing efforts to revive the ERA are underway, and it is possible that the amendment could be ratified in the future.