As we celebrate the progress that has been made towards gender equality, it’s important to remember that there is still so much work to be done. The Equal Rights Amendment was first proposed 100 years ago, and yet it still hasn’t been fully ratified. A recent article in The 19th sheds light on why the Equal Rights Amendment is still a work in progress and highlights the ongoing efforts of activists who are pushing for its ratification.
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has been a long-standing issue in the United States since its introduction 100 years ago in 1923. The ERA has yet to be fully ratified and become an amendment to the Constitution.
The ERA was first introduced in 1923 by suffragist Alice Paul and was later re-introduced in every session of Congress until it was passed by both houses in 1972. By 1977, 35 states had ratified the amendment, and two more by 2017, but the deadline for ratification expired without the required two thirds of states ratifying it.
In 2020, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA, which would have met the two-thirds requirement for ratification. However, the Department of Justice under the Trump administration issued an opinion stating that the deadline for ratification had already passed.
Efforts to challenge the DOJ’s opinion continue, with a lawsuit filed by several states and advocacy organizations arguing that the deadline for ratification is not valid and that the ERA should be adopted.
Despite advances in women’s rights over the past century, women still face discrimination and inequality in many areas, including pay, healthcare, and representation in government. The ERA would provide constitutional protection for women and transgender individuals, serving as a critical step towards achieving gender equality in the United States.
BC Voices tells the stories of women facing challenges and driving change for full equality from America’s founding to today. Our docuseries Stand UP, Speak OUT tells the story of the dramatic shift in women’s lives over the last 50 years, and the hard-won freedoms and independence at risk today. See our latest episode about Reproductive Rights to learn more!
