Comments on: Equal Rights Amendment: A Blast from the Past or a Gift for Our Children?

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:24:39 +0000

I support feminism and equal rights for women, but I think that the ERA is, unfortunately, a lost cause. The paradigm of the amendment has been ruined by decades of activist/interest group-centered conflict, and I think that legislators might be tempted to turn their head to the issue now, dismissing it as a retro, petty political battle – a conflict that they do not what to get the middle of. Perhaps a more effective plan would be to make different laws or amendments that would change specific sex-discriminating acts. I think the public and politicians would turn a more open ear to that. A lot of people are skeptical about all that the vague wording of the ERA implies (some think it will prevent single-sex bathrooms, sports teams, and girl scout/boy scout troops, etc., as well as give rights to lesbians, and support abortion). Both of these two things were well addressed by Paul Freund (constitutional law expert at Harvard Law School), when he said that the difference between a constitutional amendment and writing laws that eliminate sexist practices “…resembles that in medicine between a single braod-spectrum drug with uncertain and unwanted side effects and a selection of specific pills for specific ills.”
All that said, I am a supporter of women and their rights, and even the ERA. If it passes, and it has positive effects, then it will be a victorious day for women.

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:38:16 +0000

I agree with Chris regarding the fact that the 14th amendment already legislated equality. I don’t believe that additional legislation is the answer. As is the case with so many issues it should be more a matter of enforcing existing laws rather than piling on new laws.

By: PunditMom

PunditMom — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:32:15 +0000

To elevate women above men? All I can say is, WHAT? As if that could ever happen — if we ever get equal treatment it will be a miracle. And in any event, maybe it would be good for men to see what it feels like not to be in charge of everything once in a while!

By: Chris Wysocki

Chris Wysocki — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:03:15 +0000

@Melody Yoder Meyer – Yes indeed, mens sports programs were decimated as a result of Title IX. Wrestling in particular. Crew, and shooting sports too. Read Tilting the Playing Field by Jessica Gavora. I did. It’ll blow your mind. The goal of Title IX may be noble, but the implementation most certainly was not.

The ERA represents a feminism that seeks not to obtain equality with men but to elevate women (er “womyn”) over men (“A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle”).

Our constitution guarantees equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. Some people will succeed where others fail. Some people will have to overcome more obstacles than others. That’s life. No amount of legislation can change that simple fact. You cite the ADA. Ugh. It’s a bureaucratic nightmare and a license for abuse by unscrupulous lawyers. And yet lots of places are still not accessible to the handicapped.

My daughter will succeed because she is a good person and an American and I’ll instill in her the core values of hard work and a quality education. She’s not a “victim” of anything (discrimination, sexism, etc). She doesn’t need the government trying to “help” her. She, like all the rest of us, needs the government to get the hell out of the way.

And really, you sobbed when the ERA didn’t pass? Was your life ruined? I heard a motivational speaker once who said we only need to remember 4 words to succeed. Those 4 words? Get. Off. Your. Ass. The implication is, nobody will do it for you; you have to do it for yourself. You. You are in charge of your own destiny. Instead of looking for excuses for why you didn’t succeed (Mommy, the big bad men won’t let me succeed!) just pick yourself up and try again.

There are places in the world where women are oppressed. Saudi Arabia for instance. Ask me sometime about my buddy who took a 3 year assignment there and the hell they put his wife through. We treat our dogs better than they treat women.

By: Melody Yoder Meyer

Melody Yoder Meyer — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:30:10 +0000

Chris Wysocki you can’t possibly really believe that men’s sports programs were dismantled or even fell apart as a result of Title IX. That sounds like sour grapes not a plausible argument. While the 14th Amendment does guarantee that all citizens are equal under the law That doesn’t mean it is followed. Why else did we need additional legislation passed to guarantee women’s right to vote, the Civil Rights Voting Act, Roe vs Wade, Brown vs the Board of Education, Title IX, the Americans With Disabilities Act, etc. shall I go on?

I was 12 when I first really delved into the Equal Rights Amendment and I sobbed when it didn’t pass. I think it is time to revisit the issue and I hope we make headway this time around….if not for my sake then for the sake of my daughter and grand-daughters.

By: Chris Wysocki

Chris Wysocki — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:23:32 +0000

The 14th Amendment already guarantees that all citizens are equal under the law. The ERA is a stalking horse for the chimera of “equal pay for equal work” as well as even more vigorous use of Title IX to completely dismantle men’s sports programs.

By: Marion

Marion — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:37:54 +0000

Oh, this is welcome news to spread. When my favorite woman died, now 20 years ago, among the treasures I inherited was her ERA pin, a limited-edition from Tiffany of all places, that she wore everywhere, and I wear everywhere. People always ask about it, which always gives me the provocation to tell this the terrible fall of the ERA. Thanks for the new twist. Pin firmly in my lapel, I’m telling a new tale of hope.

By: Daisy

Daisy — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:13:45 +0000

Will the new version of the amendment read the same as it did in the 70s? That is, will it say “Not” or will it be reworded in a more positive and (dare I use the word) affirmative manner? That may make a difference in its perception.